José Leonardo Chirino facts for kids
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José Leonardo Chirino (born April 25, 1754 – died December 10, 1796) was a brave leader from Venezuela. He was a free zambo, which means he had both African and Indigenous heritage. In 1795, he helped lead an important uprising in a place called Santa Ana de Coro, Venezuela. Today, the José Leonardo Chirino Airport is named after him to honor his memory.
The 1795 Rebellion
The year 1795 was a time of big changes across the Caribbean. Many rebellions were happening in places like Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Jamaica. The famous Haitian Revolution was also taking place, where enslaved people fought for their freedom.
The rebellion in Coro was part of this wave of change. José Leonardo Chirino had recently traveled to Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). There, he heard exciting news about the Haitian Revolution. He also learned about the French Revolution, which was happening far away in France.
Another important leader in the Coro rebellion was José Caridad González. He was a Congolese man who had studied the ideas of the French Revolution. Together, Chirino and González led the people of Coro.
The Coro rebellion had four main goals:
- First, they wanted a new system of government like the French Revolution. This meant ending the rule of kings and colonies. They wanted an independent, democratic republic.
- Second, they wanted all enslaved Africans to be free. They aimed to end slavery completely.
- Third, they wanted to stop the special taxes that Indigenous people had to pay under Spanish rule.
- Fourth, they wanted to end white supremacy. This meant stopping unfair treatment and special privileges based on skin color. They believed everyone should be equal.
Betrayal and Execution
Sadly, the rebellion was stopped by the authorities. José Leonardo Chirino was betrayed by someone he knew. He was captured and sentenced to death. His children were sold into slavery. José Leonardo Chirino was executed on December 10, 1796.
See also
In Spanish: José Leonardo Chirino para niños
