Venezuela

The History of Venezuela

By achubbns
  • Jan 1, 1499

    Alonso de Ojeda visit Venezuela, which is inhabited by Carib, Arawak and Chibcha peoples.

  • Jan 31, 1521

    Spanish colonisation begins on the north-east coast.

  • Jan 1, 1550

    African slaves are shipped to Venezuela to work on plantations.

  • he king of Spain is overthrown by France's Napoleon Bonaparte, providing an opening for anti-colonial movements fighting for independence.

  • Declaration for Independence of Spaniards

    After a series of bitter battles and short-lived declarations of sovereignty, Gran Colombia - comprising Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador, wins independence from Spain. Simon Bolivar, Venezuela's national hero, plays a key role in the struggle.

  • Venezuela seperates from Gran Colombia to become an independent country with Caracas as its capital.

  • After failing to repay foreign loans, Venezuela's ports are blocked by German, British and Italian warships.

  • Period: to

    Venezuela becomes one of the world's largest oil exporters under the leadership of Juan Vicente Gomez, a dictator.

  • Leftist Romulo Betancourt is elected president. He oversees the 1963 elections, the country's first democratic civilian-to-civilian transfer of power.

  • Raul Leoni becomes president during a period of known as "puntofijismo", in which elections are limited to competition between two major parties.

  • President Carlos Andres Perez is elected president as Venezuela seeks loans from the International Monetary Fund to prop up its economy.

  • Hugo Chavez, then a military officer, leads a failed coup attempt and is jailed.

  • Chavez is freed from prison and forms a new political party.

  • Hugo Chavez is elected president

  • Chavez takes office promising to reduce poverty and corruption.

  • Period: to

    Hugo Chavez creates a stable and improving economy