A short history of Venezuela

Present-day Venezuela is inhabited by Arawaks and Carib Indians. In 1499 the coastal area is discovered by the Spanish explorer Alonse de Ojeda. He names the area Venezuela. Spian establishes some settlement and the General Capatinate of Venezuela, a Spanish colony, is founded. It becomes part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1718.

In 1811 Simón Bolivar proclaims the independence of Venezuela as the United States of Venezuela, (from 1812 named American Confederation of Venezuela on the Southern Continent). Venezuela is reconquered by Spain in 1812, but independence is restored in 1816 as the Republic of Venezuela. In 1819 Venezuela joins of the Republic of Grand Colombia. Venezuela secedes from Grand Colombia in 1830 and the Republic of Venezuela is proclaimed.

Venezuela, named United States of Venezuela since 1864, is generally rules by so-called caudillos, who rule the country in an authoritarian way. The country has a party system of liberals and conservatives that fight a civil war between 1858 and 1863. Much of Venezuela's 19th-century history is characterized by periods of political instability, dictatorial rule and revolutionary turbulence. The first half of the 20th century is marked by periods of authoritarianism, including the 1899-1908 dictatorship of Cipriano Castro Ruiz and the 1908-35 dictatorial rule by Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón, both of the Partido Liberal Restaurador (Liberal Restoration Party, PLR). The Venezuelan economy shifts after the first World War from a primarily agricultural orientation to an economy centered on petroleum production and export. He is succeeded by other dictators until 1945. Thes dictators have to make concessions to the opposition. In 1945 a coup of moderate army officers leads to a short democratic interregnum when the social-democratic Accion Democrática (Democratic Action, AD) comes to power. Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello becomes president. He is succeeded in 1948 by Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire. In 1948 a second coup leads to a dictatorship by a military junta. In 1952 the new dictator Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez seizes power. He renames Venezuela the Republic of Venezuela in 1953.

A military revolt removes Pérez Jiméne from power in 1958 and since 1958 Venezuela is a presidential democracy. Venezuela is ruled by the presidents Betancourt (1959-1964) and Raúl Leoni Otero (1964-1969). In 1969 the christian democrat Rafael Caldera Rodríguez of the Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela (Social Christian Party of Venezuela,, COPEI) is elected president, succeeded in 1973 by Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez of the AD. In 1978 the christian-democrats win again under Luis Herrera Camíns, but he is succeeded in 1983 by the social-democrat Jaime Ramón Lusinchi. Perez wins the 1988 elections.

The prevailing political calm comes to an end in 1989, when Venezuela experiences riots in which more than 200 people are killed in response to an economic austerity program launched by president Perez. In 1992 a group of army lieutenant colonels led by Hugo Chavez mount an unsuccessful coup attempt, claiming that the events of 1989 showed that the political system no longer served the interests of the people. A second, equally unsuccessful coup attempt by other officers follow in 1992. A year later parliament impeached Perez on corruption charges. In 1994 Rafael Caldera Rodríguez returns to office.

The 1998 elections lead to a victory of Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías of the Movimiento Quinta República (Movement for the Fifth Republic, MVR). He governs the country in an authoritarian way to impose his radical leftist policies. He renames the country Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in 1999 and is re-elected in 2000. In 2002 the country experiences a temporary alteration of constitutional order. When an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 persons participate in a march in downtown Caracas to demand Chavez’ resignation, gunfire breaks out, resulting in as many as 18 deaths and more than 100 injuries on both sides. Pedro Carmona is sworn in as interim president by the resistance to Chavez' government. Shortly after troops loyal to Chavez return him to power.

In 2004 Chavez survives a referendum, pronounced by the OAS and the Carter Center as fair.