 The 19th of April, 1810, by Juan Lovera. | |
| Date | April 19, 1810 |
|---|---|
| Location | Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela |
| Participants | City dwellers in general and the cabildo |
| Outcome | Formation of the Supreme Junta of Caracas, Venezuela's first form of self-government, and Venezuela's Independence Movement Begins |
The Revolution of April 19, 1810, was an insurrection in Caracas on April 19, 1810, that deposed Vicente Emparan, captain general of Venezuela, and founded the Supreme Junta of Caracas, Venezuela's first form of self-government. It is conventionally noted as the beginning of the country's struggle for independence.
In 1808, the Spanish King Ferdinand VII was forced to abdicate and imprisoned by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Spanish population reacted, leading to the creation of the Supreme Central Junta, which declared itself the substitute for Ferdinand VII until his return. The colonies of Spanish America submitted to this junta.
However, the fall of the junta led the cabildo of Caracas to meet and establish a local junta. Vicente Emparan resisted accepting it and was thus ousted by the junta with other royal officials on April 19, 1810. The junta gained the support of most of the other provinces of Venezuela and convened a Congress on March 3, 1811, which decided to declare Venezuela's independence on July 5, forming the First Republic of Venezuela.