As victory over Spain became increasingly apparent, leaders from present-day Venezuela, Colombia, and Panana convened a congress in February 1819 in Angostura (present-day Ciudad Bol�var, Venezuela) and agreed to unite in a republic to be known as Gran Colombia. After Bol�var was ratified as president in August 1819, he left Santander, his vice president, in charge of Gran Colombia and traveled south to liberate present-day Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. When present-day Ecuador was liberated in 1822, it also joined Gran Colombia.
On his return from Peru in 1827, Bol�var was barely able to maintain his personal authority. In April 1828, a general convention was convened in Oca�a to reform the constitution of C�cuta, but the convention broke up as a result of conflicting positions taken by the followers of Santander and Bol�var. Those backing Santander believed in a liberal, federalist form of government. Bol�var's followers supported a more authoritarian and centralized government, and many, especially those in Bogot�, called on Bol�var to assume national authority until he deemed it wise to convoke a new legislative body to replace Congress.
In August 1828, Bol�var assumed dictatorial powers and attempted to install a constitution that he had developed for Bolivia and Peru. Unpopular with a large portion of the New Grenadine populace, this constitution called for increased central authority and a president-for-life who could also name his own successor. During a constitutional convention held in January 1830, Bol�var resigned as president, naming Jos� Domingo Caicedo as his successor. That same year, the divisive forces at work within the republic achieved a major triumph as the Venezuelan and Ecuadorian portions of the republic seceded.
PART B
1790-1873, Jose Antonio P�ez was a Venezuelan revolutionist, president, and caudillo. He boldly led (1810-19) a band of llaneros [plainsmen] in skillful guerrilla warfare against the Spanish, aided Sim�n Bol�var at the battle of Carabobo (1821), and drove (1823) the Spanish from their last Venezuelan stronghold at Puerto Cabello. He led the separatist movement that disrupted Bol�var's Colombian republic and was the first president of Venezuela (1831-35). A conservative oligarch and exponent of personalism, he served again (1839-43), dominating the nation until 1847. P�ez commanded unsuccessful revolutions in 1848 and 1849 against Jos� T. Monagas, his own choice for president, and was exiled (1850-58). He returned and in 1861 became supreme dictator. Two years later he again went into exile. He died in New York City.
PART C
For part c I wanted to learn more about another subject that I found to be of rather great interest. I also thought that it would be great for others in the class to learn about it also, especially if they did not choose it as their topic for the week.
On the chilly morning of December 9, 1531, Juan Diego crossed the barren hill called Tepeyac to attend Mass. He was brought to a sudden halt by a blinding light and the sound of unearthly music. Before him appeared an astounding vision--a beautiful dark-skinned woman who, calling the Indian "my son," declared herself to be the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She told Juan Diego it was her desire to have a church built on Tepeyac hill, and asked him to relay that message to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga.
It was no easy task for the humble Indian to be granted an audience with the top prelate, but the persistent Juan Diego was finally admitted. The incredulous Bishop demanded that he be provided with some proof of the unlikely encounter. Confused and fearful, Juan Diego avoided Tepeyac for several days, but on December 12, while rushing to find a priest to attend a seriously ill uncle, he took a short cut across the hill. The Virgin once again appeared and Juan Diego told her of the Bishop's request. The Virgin instructed him to pick roses from the usually sere and desolate hill and deliver them to Zumarraga as the sign.
Juan Diego gathered up the miraculous blossoms in his mantle and hurried off to complete his mission. Once again before the Bishop, he let the roses spill out before him. To the wonder of all assembled, a perfect image of La Virgen Morena (the Dark Virgin) was revealed emblazoned on Juan Diego's cloak.
By order of the Bishop, a small church was soon constructed on the site designated by the Virgin. Skeptics are quick to point out the unlikely coincidence of the Virgin's appearance on Tepeyac, the very site of an Aztec temple dedicated to Tonatzin (earth goddess, mother of the gods and protectress of humanity), which had been devastated by order of Bishop Zumarraga.
The original church was replaced by a larger structure built in 1709. The Vatican officially recognized the Miracle of Guadalupe in 1745. The second sanctuary was declared a Basilica in 1904, but by then it had begun to slowly sink into the soft, sandy soil beneath it. A new Basilica, of modern design and enormous capacity, was dedicated in October of 1976.
