April Revolution (Venezuela)

For other uses, see April Revolution (disambiguation).

April Revolution
Part of the Venezuelan civil wars

Antonio Guzmán Blanco at the Battle of Apure.
Date14 February - 27 April 1870
Location
Venezuela
Result

Yellow Liberal victory

Belligerents
Blue government Yellow liberals
Commanders and leaders
José Ruperto Monagas Antonio Guzmán Blanco
Joaquín Crespo
Francisco Linares Alcántara

The April Revolution, also known as the Yellow Revolution, was a successful campaign initiated by Antonio Guzmán Blanco with former leaders of the Venezuelan Federal War (1859-1863), including his most adept followers, Joaquín Crespo and Francisco Linares Alcántara, to overthrow the Blue government of José Ruperto Monagas.

Background

After the Blue Revolution of 1868 that overthrew the government of Juan Crisóstomo Falcón, Antonio Guzmán Blanco had to leave the country as a victim of political persecution.[1]
Meanwhile, instability reigned in Venezuela with constant armed uprisings, among them those of José Ignacio Pulido , Joaquín Crespo, Matías Salazar, León Colina or Francisco Linares Alcántara, against President José Ruperto Monagas.[2]

Actions

Coming from Curaçao and bringing material to quickly assemble a rebel army, Guzmán and his army landed in Curamichate, near La Vela de Coro, on 14 February 1870. By 27 April of the same year, after three days of combat, they enter Caracas triumphantly acclaimed by the people dissatisfied with the government of José Ruperto Monagas. The city had been defended by 1,600 to 2,000 men, most of them armed residents.[3] General Monagas signed the surrender of the government and then began the long term of Antonio Guzmán Blanco as leader of the country (1870-1887), a period known as Yellow Liberalism.[4]

Consolidation of power

Guzman Blanco sent Matías Salazar to fight Blue forces that still refused to surrender. He was victorious in the Battle of Guama which left 800 dead, and which was won thanks to the fact that 200 Blue soldiers defected, encouraged by León Colina. Some 200 enemy soldiers were taken prisoner.[5]

General Adolfo Antonio Olivo managed to gain strength in Maturín by leading the resistance against the new government. However he retreated after being defeated by the troops of José Ignacio Pulido and took refuge in the town of San Fernando de Apure.[6]

In December 1871, Antonio Guzmán Blanco marched with six thousand soldiers to defeat General Olivo in the battle of San Fernando de Apure, after which General Adolfo Antonio Olivo drowned in the Arauca River along with 300 of his men. The Apure State was pacified by the beginning of 1872, consolidating his power.[7]

References

  1. ^ Marcano, Rodrigo (30 April 2020). "La Revolución de abril de 1870". Prodavinci (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Revolución de Abril | Fundación Empresas Polar". bibliofep.fundacionempresaspolar.org. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  3. ^ Dixon, 2015: 160; Esteves, 2006: 101
  4. ^ Dixon, 2015: 160
  5. ^ CorreodeLara (18 May 2020). "La batalla de Guama, Matías Salazar, Guzman y la iglesia". CORREO DE LARA (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  6. ^ Duke University Libraries, Francisco (1909). Historia contemporánea de Venezuela. Caracas, Tip. empresa El Cojo. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  7. ^ Esteves, 2006: 103

Bibliography

  • Lucca, Rafael Arráiz (mayo de 2007). «6». En Fanuel Hanán Díaz; Lisbeth Cabezas, ed. Historia Contemporánea de Venezuela. Primer año del ciclo diversificado de la Educación Media. (1era edición). Caracas: Larense. pp. 94-95;101.
  • Esteves González, Edgar (2006). Las Guerras de Los Caudillos. Caracas: El Nacional. ISBN 980-388-247-3.
  • Dixon, Jeffrey S. & Meredith Reid Sarkees (2015). A Guide to Intra-state Wars: An Examination of Civil, Regional, and Intercommunal Wars, 1816–2014. CQ Press. ISBN 9781506317984.