Venezuela By mtang Jan 16, 1499 Christopher Colombus reaches Venezuela Jan 23, 1811 Independanc Independance is declared. Jan 16, 1819 Spanish, Bolivar and their follower campaigned against the Spanish marching across the Andes and liberating Columbia. Jan 16, 1821 Venezuela gets liberated. Jan 16, 1825 Bolivia gets liberated. Jan 16, 1830 Venezuela gains independance by Jose Antonio Paez Jan 16, 1830 Treuely gained idependance Jan 23, 1908 Dictatorship Juan Vicente Gomez begins his dictatorship. Jan 23, 1912 Oil First oil well is drilled. Jan 23, 1929 Oil lead Venezuela becomes the world's second largest oil producer. Jan 23, 1935 Death Juan Vicente Gomez dies. Jan 16, 1970 A huge oil boom happens. Jan 16, 1999 Hugo Chavez gets elected as president Jan 16, 2001 Hugo Chavez gets re=elected as president