Venezuelan Declaration of Independence facts for kids
The Venezuelan Declaration of Independence (called Acta de la Declaración de Independencia de Venezuela in Spanish) is a very important paper. It was written and agreed upon by people in Venezuela on July 5, 1811. With this document, Venezuela decided to break away from the Spanish Crown.
The declaration said that everyone should be equal. It also said that people should be free to speak their minds. These ideas were very different from how things were during 300 years of Spanish rule. They became key rules for the new nation.
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What is Venezuela's Declaration of Independence?
This declaration was a big step for Venezuela. It meant they wanted to be their own country. They wanted to be free from Spain's control. It was a brave decision to start a new nation.
Why Did Venezuela Want Independence?
Seven out of ten provinces in Venezuela decided to declare independence. They had many reasons for this big step. One reason was that they felt it was wrong for a small European country like Spain to rule such a large area in the New World.
Another reason was that Spain was having its own problems. Their king had given up his throne. This made Venezuelans feel they had the right to govern themselves. Even though they shared a history with Spain, they needed to rule their own land.
Provinces That Joined and Didn't
The seven provinces that declared independence were:
- Caracas Province
- Cumaná Province
- Barinas Province
- Margarita Province
- Barcelona Province
- Mérida Province
- Trujillo Province
Three other provinces did not join this declaration. They chose to stay under Spanish rule. These were Maracaibo Province, Coro Province, and Guayana Province.
Who Wrote the Declaration?
The declaration created a new nation called the American Confederacy of Venezuela. The main writers of this important document were Cristóbal Mendoza and Juan Germán Roscio.
With this declaration, Venezuela became the first independent republic in Spanish America. This act of freedom inspired other lands in Latin America to seek their own independence.
The Big Vote for Independence
On July 3, 1811, leaders from the first National Congress met in Caracas. They talked about whether to declare independence. Two days later, on July 5, they voted. The vote was 40 for independence and only 4 against.
After the vote, Mendoza and Roscio showed the document to the Congress. Then, Roscio and Francisco Isnardi spoke about it. The Congress officially approved the declaration on July 7, 1811. There were 43 votes for it and only one against. It was written into the Congress's official book on August 17, 1811, in Caracas.
Where Can You See the Original Document?
The day of this declaration, July 5, is celebrated as Independence Day in Venezuela. The original book where the declaration was recorded is kept in the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas.
The document itself is kept at the museo de la Casa de las Primeras Letras Simón Rodríguez. In 2013, a copy of the document on display had the signature of former president Hugo Chávez added to it as a tribute.
See also
In Spanish: Acta de la Declaración de Independencia de Venezuela para niños
