Caracas, 6 July 2022 (TDI): On July 5, Venezuela celebrates Independence Day. Venezuela considers it a National Day, commemorating the signing of the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence in 1811.
Spanish Conquest of Venezuela:
In 1498, Christopher Columbus made his third trip to America. A year later, Americo Vespucio, Juan de la Cosa, and Alonso de Ojeda arrived and named the new lands Little Venice.
In 1522, the Spanish began colonizing what is now Venezuela. The first permanent settlement was established in what is now known as Cumaná. Juan de Ampíes founded Saint Ana de Coro, the first capital of Venezuela.
Venezuela was managed as part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada for the majority of the 16th century before becoming an autonomous Captaincy General in 1777. The US and French Revolutions of the late 18th century had a significant impact on the rest of the American territories.
Haiti, the first revolutionary movement
A revolutionary movement began in Haiti in 1791 and quickly expanded to Spanish and Portuguese possessions such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Venezuela’s Independence Day History:
On July 5, 1811, an assembly of Venezuelan provinces ratified the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence; establishing Venezuela as one of the first independent states under Spanish rule. The Spanish resisted and destroyed this first attempt at independence in 1812. The independence wasn’t secured until 1821
The city council of Caracas removed the Captain-General of Venezuela on April 19, 1810. This marked the start of Venezuela’s War of Independence. People like Francisco de Miranda led the struggle for independence.
Simón Bolívar, not only lead Venezuela; but also Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama to independence, participated in both the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution.
Following a series of revolutions, seven of Venezuela’s ten provinces declared their independence from the Captaincy General of Venezuela on July 5, 1811.
The Venezuelan Declaration of Independence established the American Confederacy of Venezuela. Although the Venezuelan War of Independence lasted until 1823, Independence Day is celebrated on the date of the 1811 Declaration of Independence.
Venezuelan Independence Day is also known as Cinco de Julio. Because it is a public holiday, all schools and government offices, as well as some private businesses, close for the day.
Most Venezuelans spend their days associating with family and friends and participating in several outdoor and indoor activities.
The Natural Assembly holds a special session in the morning, which includes public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which is televised nationally. The annual civic-military parade in Caracas, however, is the main attraction of Independence Day.
Furthermore; its participants include Venezuela’s National Bolivarian Armed Forces and National Police, government and public sector representatives, and school marching bands.
National Armed Forces Day:
On July 5, Venezuela also celebrates National Armed Forces Day. On this occasion, the President also addresses personnel of Venezuela’s National Bolivarian Armed Forces in his constitutional capacity as Commander in Chief.
International Community congratulated Venezuela
The representatives of several countries have congratulated Venezuela on this day like the US. The Venezuelan Embassies throughout the world organized events to commemorate like in Argentina; Azerbaijan; Surinam, Jamaica; Romania, Haiti, Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda, and Hungary.
At the event held in France; the representatives of China, Russia, Cuba, Peru, Siria, Sudan, Sri Lanka; Laos, Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and others were present. The National Library of Belarus used the colors of Venezuela to commemorate the day.
Simon Bolivar
Bolivar was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1783; as part of a family of Basque origin from the Venezuelan Creole hidalguía. Bolivar traveled around Europe where he became familiar with the ideas of the French Revolution. In Paris, Bolivar met Napoleon and Humboldt.
In 1805, Bolivar swore in Rome that he was not going to rest until he could free his country from Spanish domination. Bolivar then became the main leader of the war for the independence of several Spanish-American colonies.
For this, Bolivar received the title of Liberator. Bolivar also provided an ideological basis. In 1813; he began a second attempt at independence but the Spanish were able to reconquer.
Bolivar launched a third attempt at independence between 1816 and 1819. This gave him partial control of the territory and two years later; after a truce, guaranteed Venezuelan Independence.
