The independence movement in Venezuela, like in other countries in Latin America, was a tumultuous one. Even after the achieval of independence, Venezuela still struggled to maintain a successful government. Before the independence movements, loyalty to the Spanish rule was the common sentiment; a loyalty that would continue even during the Peninsular War. This caused many revolutionaries like Simon Bolivar to resort to wear the mask of Fernando VII in the juntas due to the lack of support liberals had. That sentiment later evolved into the notion of ‘americanos versus europeos’; which in a way, was what started the whole movement of independence. In the case of Venezuela, the transition from colony to sovereign state resulted very challenging
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After the achieval of independence, it is undeniable to say that what lacked in Venezuela, as well as other nations of Latin America, was a national identity as well as representation of americanos of non-european descent, After all, without an established national identity, having the majoritarian support would have been impossible to Bolivar.
One of the challenges that emerged for Simon Bolivar on his way to leadership was the fact that liberalism lacked the majority support in colonial Latin America. Bolivar, like other revolutionaries, such as Francisco Miranda, struggled to get the support of most Venezuelans because of the stigma the term “liberal” had in colonial Venezuela. Being a liberal was associated with having French ideals, which naturally defied the Spanish rule. John Charles Chasteen actually states this when describing Francisco Miranda’s failed attempts to invade Venezuela. In his book, Americanos: Latin America’s Struggle for Independence, he states “the outcome of Miranda’s 1806 expedition shows that ‘French ideas’ alone could not create movements for independence in America” (38). This demonstrates that the …show more content…
In the case of Venezuela, the independence movements was a period of constant instability. This instability would still continue to exist even after independence, when Bolivar was struggling to maintain his rule. Before the struggles for independence, Venezuela, was in full support of the Spanish rule and had no intention of changing it. That sentiment would still be present during Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, which forced many liberals like Bolivar to wear the mask of Fernando VII. Of course, that loyalty would come to an end when the conflict became more about americanos versus europeos-- the americanos were no longer interested in obeying Spain. However, in many cases, the americanos were still conservative and reluctant to change. And, during the independence movements, the liberal americanos were mostly educated and of european descent; who had the ability to read and to learn about the ideals of the French revolution. This contributed to Latin America’s lack of national identity pre and post-independence. Post-independence governments weren’t really fair to its citizens, which of course, included the majority-- common people of non european descent. Eventually these governments would improve, but the struggles for independence only demonstrate that independence does not guarantee a successful and smooth
After the achieval of independence, it is undeniable to say that what lacked in Venezuela, as well as other nations of Latin America, was a national identity as well as representation of americanos of non-european descent, After all, without an established national identity, having the majoritarian support would have been impossible to Bolivar.
One of the challenges that emerged for Simon Bolivar on his way to leadership was the fact that liberalism lacked the majority support in colonial Latin America. Bolivar, like other revolutionaries, such as Francisco Miranda, struggled to get the support of most Venezuelans because of the stigma the term “liberal” had in colonial Venezuela. Being a liberal was associated with having French ideals, which naturally defied the Spanish rule. John Charles Chasteen actually states this when describing Francisco Miranda’s failed attempts to invade Venezuela. In his book, Americanos: Latin America’s Struggle for Independence, he states “the outcome of Miranda’s 1806 expedition shows that ‘French ideas’ alone could not create movements for independence in America” (38). This demonstrates that the …show more content…
In the case of Venezuela, the independence movements was a period of constant instability. This instability would still continue to exist even after independence, when Bolivar was struggling to maintain his rule. Before the struggles for independence, Venezuela, was in full support of the Spanish rule and had no intention of changing it. That sentiment would still be present during Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, which forced many liberals like Bolivar to wear the mask of Fernando VII. Of course, that loyalty would come to an end when the conflict became more about americanos versus europeos-- the americanos were no longer interested in obeying Spain. However, in many cases, the americanos were still conservative and reluctant to change. And, during the independence movements, the liberal americanos were mostly educated and of european descent; who had the ability to read and to learn about the ideals of the French revolution. This contributed to Latin America’s lack of national identity pre and post-independence. Post-independence governments weren’t really fair to its citizens, which of course, included the majority-- common people of non european descent. Eventually these governments would improve, but the struggles for independence only demonstrate that independence does not guarantee a successful and smooth