Venezuela, Colombia and the Guianas 1871 CE

What is happening in Venezuela, Colombia and the Guianas in 1871CE

Apart from a brief military coup in 1854, Colombia has been governed by civilian democratic governments. Its politics, however, is characterised by bitter, and often violent, rivalry between the Conservatives and Liberals.

Venezuela has continued to be ruled by military strongmen (caudillos). The rule of Jose Antonio Paez (1830-48) brought political stability, but then instability set in, leading to a period of violent chaos called the “Federalists Wars” (1858-63). Only the seizure of power by the general Antonio Guzman Blanco has restored order (1870).

To the east, the French followed the British in abolishing slavery in 1848. Many of the ex-slaves then migrated inland to form free communities in the interior. A few years later French Guiana began its infamous history as the dumping-ground for France’s worst criminals (from 1854). The Dutch ended slavery in 1863; both the French and the Dutch follow the British example of bringing in workers from their colonies in Eastern Asia to replace the slaves.

Next map, Venezuela, Colombia and the Guianas in 1914