Reclaiming Revolution: The preamble to the return of Guzmán Blanco to power in Venezuela

Published at: 29/12/2024 08:09 AM

On December 29, 1878, the brief civil war known as the Reclaming Revolution began in Venezuela, between supporters of the return to power of Antonio Guzmán Blanco and those who, from the government, initiated an “anti-Zmancist” reaction seeking to rid the country of the iron and personalist control that “The Illustrious American” had exercised since his rise to power.

At the beginning of 1877, Guzmán Blanco decided not to run for the next presidential elections. Instead, he supported the candidacy of Francisco Linares Alcántara as president for the next two years. The Congress , dominated by the leader, then elected Linares Alcántara as president, while Blanco embarked for France as Plenipotentiary Minister.

During his administration, Linares Alcántara moved away from the liberal circle attached to the “Illustrious American” and encouraged demonstrations against him. This is how in several cities of the country, especially in Caracas and Valencia, demonstrations were held against Guzmán Blanco; among the print media that promoted the protest, the newspaper La Tribuna Liberal, which also disseminated ideas in favor of President Linares Alcántara, stood out. However, the president was unable to govern for long, as he died suddenly in November 1878.

The Congress then elected José Gregorio Varela as president, who continued with anti-Zmancist policies, and Gregorio Cedeño as its vice-president. The situation within the liberal party became even more tense when statues and monuments related to Guzmán Blanco collapsed with the approval of the government. As a result, faced with this situation, Vice President Cedeño, aligned with Guzmancism and with the support of General Joaquín Crespo, rose up against the government leading the Reclaming Revolution.

Government and revolutionary troops clashed in La Victoria for 5 days at the beginning of 1879, leaving approximately 2,000 dead and the victory for the side of Vice President Cedeño.

Later, on February 13, revolutionary forces entered Caracas, overthrowing the Varela government and paving the way for the return to power of Guzmán Blanco.

Mazo News Team