The dictatorship of Simón Bolívar in Venezuela was the government established in the context of the War of Independence, between 1813 and 1814, after proclaiming the restoration of the Republic in what is now called the Second Republic of Venezuela, being the only government of this period and lasting until its fall. Bolívar was named dictator in a Popular Assembly in Caracas to lead the country for the duration of the war, publicly assuring that his intention was not to perpetuate himself in power.

The nation had two centers of power: Caracas, governed by Bolívar, and Cumaná, governed by Santiago Mariño. During this time, the emigration to the East from Caracas took place; Bolívar and Mariño were defeated by José Tomás Boves and left the country into in 1814.

Cabinet Bolívar appointed three secretaries of State: in Finance and Foreign Affairs, as Minister of War, and Rafael Diego Mérida as Minister of Interior. Subsequently, a special position was created for the control of public revenues, granted to General José Félix Ribas.

Domestic policy

Provisional Government Plan On August 13, 1813, Bolívar commissioned the jurist Francisco Javier Ustáriz to draft the Provisional Government Plan for Venezuela, with the intention of reorganizing power to avoid the problems that led to the fall of the First Republic. Although it remained unfinished, notable points included:

The supreme Legislative Power shall reside in the General in Chief of the Liberating Army, without other restrictions than those emanating from the General Congress of New Granada, his constituent, until peace. The Executive Power shall likewise reside in him, under the same restrictions, particularly in all matters concerning the armed forces of sea and land. In all governmental, economic, and police matters, they shall be under the charge of their respective magistrates, under the dependency of the same General in Chief. (...) The military government of the province of Caracas shall reside in the General in Chief when he is in the capital, and when he leaves for expeditions, it shall fall upon the person he appoints, or upon the highest-ranking American officer employed in the same capital at his departure.

Official appointment of Bolívar On January 2, 1814, a Popular Assembly was held at the Convent of San Francisco in Caracas, attended by the civil governor, the director general of Revenues, representatives of the university, among others. Bolívar declared in the Assembly:

Bolívar accepted the mandate after attempting to decline, saying: "Choose your representatives, your magistrates, a just government," and finally accepting, making it clear that he did so by popular will, and disassociating himself from the authority of the Congress of New Granada.

Regarding his government, Bolívar declared to the Congress of New Granada on August 8, 1813:

"In the meantime that a legal and permanent government is organized, I find myself exercising the supreme authority, which I shall lay down in the hands of an assembly of notables of this capital, which must be convened to demand a government conforming to the nature of the circumstances, and to the instructions I have received from that august congress."

Foreign policy

Spanish Empire

War to the Death

Regarding the War to the Death, Secretary of State Antonio Muñoz Tébar declared by order of Bolívar in 1814:

See also

Presidency of Simón Bolívar in the Third Republic of Venezuela Dictatorship of Simón Bolívar in Gran Colombia

References