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DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A SECTION 3 Venezuela and TEKS 1A, 1B, 2B, 4A, the Guianas 15A, 15B, 18A What You Will Learn… If YOU lived there... Main Ideas You’ve come from your home in eastern Venezuela to visit the near- 1. Spanish settlement shaped by country of Suriname. Your visit is full of surprises. As you walk the history and culture of along the streets of the country’s capital, Paramaribo, people are Venezuela. 2. Oil production plays a large not speaking Spanish, but Dutch, English, and some languages you role in Venezuela’s economy don’t even recognize. You see Hindu temples and Muslim mosques and government today. 3. The Guianas have diverse alongside Christian churches. cultures and plentiful resources. Why is Suriname so different from Venezuela? The Big Idea European settlement, immi- gration, and natural resources BUILDING BACKGROUND Venezuela, like Colombia, was once a have greatly influenced the cul- Spanish colony, but the Guianas were colonized by other nations— ture and economy of Venezuela Great Britain, the Netherlands, and France. When these countries and the Guianas. gained independence, British Guiana became Guyana and Dutch Guiana became Suriname. Key Terms and Places llaneros, p. 246 Lake Maracaibo, p. 246 Caracas, p. 247 History and Culture of Venezuela strike, p. 248 Venezuela was originally the home of many small tribes of South referendum, p. 248 American Indians. Those groups were conquered by the Span- ish in the early 1500s. Though Venezuela became independent from Spain in the early 1800s, those three centuries of Spanish rule shaped the country’s history and culture. Use the graphic organizer online to organize your notes on Venezuela Spanish Settlement and Colonial Rule and the Guianas. The Spanish came to Venezuela hoping to find gold and pearls. They forced the native Indians to search for these treasures, but they finally realized there was little gold to be found. Then the Spanish turned to agriculture, once again forcing the Indians to do the work. They grew indigo (IN-di-goh), a plant used to make a deep blue dye. Because the work was very hard, many of the Indians died. Then the Spanish began bringing enslaved Afri- cans to take the Indians’ places. Eventually, some of the slaves escaped, settling in remote areas of the country. 244 CHAPTER 10 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A B IOGRAPHY Simon Bolívar (1783–1830) Known as the “George Washington of South America,” Simon Bolívar was a revolutionary general. In the early 1800s he led the liberation of several South American countries from Spanish rule. Beginning in 1811 Bolívar helped free his native Venezuela. He was president of Gran Colombia (present-day Ven- ezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecua- dor) and then Peru. Because Bolívar Venezuela’s Independence also helped free Bolivia, the country Each year, Venezuelans celebrate Simon was named in his honor. People Bolívar’s efforts in achieving Venezuela’s across South America admire Bolívar independence. Independence Day is filled with for his determination in achieving parades and parties. independence for the former Spanish colonies. Today in both Venezuela and Bolivia, Bolívar’s birthday is a national holiday. Independence and Self-Rule Drawing Inferences Why do you think Partly because the colony was so poor, Bolívar is often compared to George Washington? some people in Venezuela revolted against Spain. Simon Bolívar helped lead the fight against Spanish rule. Bolívar is considered a hero in many South American coun- tries because he led wars of independence mixed Indian and European descent. Indi- throughout the region. Bolívar helped win ans make up only about 2 percent of the Venezuelan independence from Spain by population. People of European descent 1821. However, Venezuela did not official- tend to live in the large cities. People of ly become independent until 1830. African descent tend to live along the coast. Throughout the 1800s Venezuelans Most Venezuelans are Spanish-speaking suffered from dictatorships and civil wars. Roman Catholics, but the country’s Indians Venezuela’s military leaders ran the coun- speak 25 different languages and follow the try. After oil was discovered in the early religious practices of their ancestors. 1900s, some leaders kept the country’s oil Venezuelan culture includes dancing money for themselves. As a result, the peo- and sports. Venezuela’s national dance, the ple of Venezuela did not benefit from their joropo, is a lively foot-stomping couples’ country’s oil wealth. dance. Large crowds of Venezuelans attend rodeo events. Baseball and soccer are also People and Culture popular throughout Venezuela. The people of Venezuela are descended from native Indians, Europeans, and Afri- READING CHECK Summarizing How did the cans. The majority of Venezuelans are of Spanish contribute to Venezuela’s history? caRIBBEAN SOUTH AMERica 245 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A FOCUS ON Venezuela Today to buy luxuries. However, the vast major- READING ity of the population still lived in poverty. Many Venezuelans make a living by farm- In the paragraphs Many of Venezuela’s poor people moved under Venezuela ing and ranching. However, most wealthy Today, what to the cities to try to find work. Some set- Venezuelans have made money in the details support tled on the outskirts in communities of the main idea that country’s oil industry. In addition, Venezu- shacks. They had no running water, sew- oil production ela’s government has also benefited from plays a large role ers, or electricity. oil wealth. in Venezuela’s Venezuela’s wealth attracted many economy and government? Agriculture and Ranching immigrants from Europe and other South Rural areas of Venezuela are dotted by American countries. These immigrants, farms and ranches. Northern Venezuela like most other Venezuelans, suffered in has some small family farms as well as the 1980s when the price of oil dropped large commercial farms. Llaneros (yah- sharply. Without the money provided NAY -rohs)— or Venezuelan cowboys—herd by high oil prices, the economy couldn’t cattle on the many ranches of the Llanos support the people. Oil prices recovered in region. However, some small communities the 1990s, and the Venezuelan economy of Indians practice traditional agriculture. continues to be based on oil production. As you can see on the map on the next Economy and Natural Resources page, the Orinoco River basin and Lake In the 1960s Venezuela began earning Maracaibo (mah-rah-KY-boh) are rich in huge sums of money from oil production. oil. Venezuela is the only South American This wealth allowed part of the population member of the Organization of Petroleum FOCUS ON CULTURE The Feast of Corpus Christi One day each summer, men dressed as devils dance in the streets of the Venezuelan town of San Francisco de Yare. On this day, people here honor the Roman Catholic feast day of Corpus Christi. Spanish settlers brought the tradition of dressing up as devils to Venezu- ela. This tradition includes the making of elaborate, colorful masks that the dancers wear. These masks usually resemble pigs or jaguars. Dancing through the town’s streets to the beat of drums, the dancers shake musi- cal instruments called maracas. They believe their dancing, music, and scary masks will keep evil away from their town. Summarizing How do some Venezuelans celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi? 246 CHAPTER 10 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A Venezuela’s Major Resources 70°W 60°W Caribbean Sea N W E S HRW Middle School Geography G 10°N World’smg7fvs_csamap015ba Top Oil Exporters Venezuela Major Resources Country Oil Exports Lake Locator Maracaibo r e (million barrels per day) R i v final pass--6/7/05 oc o rin G O G Saudi Arabia 6.8 G 1 VENEZUELA G COLOMBIA G G G 2 Russia 4.9 GUYANA Oil fields 3 Iran 2.4 Oil pipelines G G G Gold O 4 Nigeria 2.3 rin Coal oco R iv 5 United Arab Emirates 2.1 0 100 200 Miles er 0 100 200 Kilometers 8 Venezuela 1.6 Projection: Azimuthal Equal-Area BRAZIL HRW Middle School World Geography Human-Environmentmg7fvs_csamap015ca Interaction Oil, gold, and coal are Venezuela’sVenezuela major Major resources. Resources 1. LocateLegend What resource is located near the Orinoco River? 2. DrawREPLACEMENT Conclusions Final What pass--7/14/05 resource do you think is the most difficult to transport to port cities? Exporting Countries (OPEC). The member Caracas is encircled by slums, and many countries in this organization attempt to Venezuelans living in the rural areas of the control world oil production and keep oil country are also poor. HRW Middle School World Geography prices from falling too low. mg7fvs_csamap015aa The Guiana Highlands in the south- Government Carib. S. America: Venezuela Major Resources east are rich in other minerals, such as iron After years of suffering under military dic- Final pass--6/7/05 ore for making steel. Gold is also mined in tatorships, the people of Venezuela elected remote areas of the highlands. Dams on their first president in 1959. Since then, tributaries of the Orinoco River produce Venezuela’s government has dealt with hydroelectricity. economic turmoil and political protests. Caracas (kah-RAH-kahs) is Venezuela’s In 2002 Venezuela’s president, Hugo capital and the economic and cultural cen- Chavez, started to distribute the country’s ter of the country. It is a large city with a oil income equally among all Venezuelans. modern subway system, busy expressways, Before Chavez’s presidency, only a small and tall office buildings. Still, neither Cara- percentage of wealthy Venezuelans ben- cas nor Venezuela has escaped poverty.

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