Since Simon Bolivar has not disappointed Chavez yet, we will concentrated on what happened on that important date. Before I can tell you about the fifth, I must take you to what happened on the 19th of April of 1810. On this date a group of citizens who were loyal to king Fernando VII organized an autonomous movement on behalf of Caracas. Once Caracas joined the movement, it was a matter of time that the separation from Spain was imminent. As a result, on March 2,1811, the first Venezuelan Congress was installed in Caracas. This congress represented the following congresses: Caracas, Cumaná, Barinas, Margarita, Mérida, Barcelona y Trujillo.These seven provinces formed what was called " American Confederation of Venezuela in the Meridional Continent." These provinces became the seven stars in the Venezuelan flag.
What about the eighth star? That was added by Chavez who by reading Bolivar's writing discover that in 1819, Simón Bolivar wanted to add the eighth star for the still disputed territory of Guayana. Is Guayana part of Venezuela? No, Venezuela is disputing any territory east of the Essequibo River. (dispute meetings continue to occur to settle it in a peaceful and cordial manner). It is important to note that the following provinces were excluded because at the time they were still dominated by the Spaniards: Coro, Maracaibo and Guayana.
A provisional president was elected for the Congress created on March 2, 1811. In addition, the members swored to protect the rights and those of the king Fernando VII and reject on behalf of the church any influences from the French Revolution in the process of the Venezuelan Independence.Next, the Co-federation of the political constitution which would take place in the Congress and dominate most of the XIX Century.
Last, the declaration of absolute independence from Spain and any other European countries.
As more sessions of Congress occurred, the idea of independence began to take root. At one time, Simon Bolivar stated loudly his famous question: "¿Trescientos años de calma, no bastan?" "300 years of Calm, aren't they enough?.
On the morning of July 5th the Congress continued to debate until the vote was concluded that afternoon at three PM the president of the congress Juan Antonio Rodriguez Dominguez announced the absolute Independence of Venezuela. According to some witnesses at the time, it is said that there were spontaneous manifestation of great joy and celebration. Although the original document with the 41 signatures has not been found, its original writing of the Act can be seen in the reproduction of the local publication of that month called "El Publicista de Venezuela y la Gaceta de Caracas" dated July 16, 1810.
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