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Unrest grows in Latin America
Venezuelans and other Latin American countries were angry because money from trade went to wealthy Spanish landowners. European revolutions started to inspire Latin American countries to revolt against the oppressors. -
Napoleon Invades Spain
This led to revolts in Latin America. The Royal Family was no longer seen as legitimate, so Creoles began to question their relationship with Spain. Spain started to split into Juntas, which were emergency governments. Juntas would become common in Latin America during the independence movement. -
Spanish Governer expelled from the country
The Spanish governor was officially deprived of his powers and expelled from Venezuela. A Latin American Junta took over. -
A national congress met in Caracas to draft a constitution.
Bolívar wasn’t a delegate but he put himself into the debate. In the first public speech of his career, he declared, “Let us lay the cornerstone of American freedom without fear. To hesitate is to perish.” -
Venezuelan delegates travel to England
These diplomats were sent to England to try to gain support for independence. They argued that independence for Latin Americans would benefit England, so the English should support the Venezuelans with weapons -
Venezeula declared independence
After working on a constitution for four month, the Patriotic Society declared independence from Spain -
Venezuela signs armistice with Spain
Venezuela's first revolution was unseccseful because the government was weak and there was not enough national unity. The Spanish imprisoned the Commander of the Venezuelan army. Bolivar escaped and published revolutionary manifestos. -
Venezuelans Conquer Bogota
This victory helped set up victory over the Spanish, this defeat led to the fall of the last viceroy of Gran Columbia. Venezuela was almost completely free. The only remaining area under Spanish control was Caracas. -
Simon Bolivar is elected President of Venezeula
Simon Bolivar, Venezeulan politician, activist and writer was elected president of Venezuela. This gave him power over Gran Columbia, which included Columbia, Panama, and Ecuador -
Rebels win at Carabobo
Rebels won an important victory at Carabobo. A few days later, the city of Caracus fell to rebels. When Caracus fell, Venezuela was free of Spanish rule completely. -
Battle of Ayacucho
Venezuelan forces fought the last of the Spanish forces in Ayacucho, Peru. The Venezuelans were victorious and the Spanish were finally driven from South America.
