An Historical Study of Santiago De Leon De Caracas, Venezuela
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
AN HISTORICAL STUDY OF SANTIAGO DE LEON DE CARACAS, VENEZUELA By ETHEL LUCILE MARSHALL A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA August, 1958 PREFACE This study is an attempt to present a synthesis of the histor- ical development of the city of Santiago de Leon de Caracas, Venezuela, numerous small studies and magazine articles have been written about Caracas within the last decade, but the majority of them have told only of the dramatic physical changes that have occurred in the city, and few have been concerned with any of the more serious aspects of the develop- ment of the city. Little serious historical treatment of the city has been undertaken to this time. This study was made to offer a perspective of the historical development in the colonial and national periods, but without attempting a complete and detailed history of the city. Since I am registered in the School of Inter-American Studies, and have a major in History, and minors in Geography, Economics, and Sociology, this particular type of study has seemed most appropriate. The additional research necessary for this study was made possible by a grant from the Creole Corporation. This grant enabled me to spend some time in the city of Caracas gathering information and becoming ac- quainted with the city at first hand. Deep appreciateion is expressed to Dr. Guillermo Zuloago, and to the Public Relations staff of Creole Petroleum Corporation. The encouragement and the assistance of the Public Relations staff was invaluable to me. There is a host of others to whom I am indebted. In Venezuela the list is a long one. Dr. Illctor Garcia Chuecos, Director of the Arcfoivo ii iii General de la ..acion . his sub-director, and other members of his staff were most helpful in my investigations in the Archivo . Dr. Garc£a Chuecos opened the way through introductions for me to secure information that would have been otherwise impossible. His assistance and his delight in my findings added to the pleasantness of the research. Dr. J. A. Cova, ibliotecario-Archivero of the Acade.aia vacional de la ^istoria and his staff were most gracious and helpful. I shall never forget the pleasant- ness of working on the upper veranda of the Academia . which was the for- mer Franciscan monastery, whether during the sunny days when the birds sang and the palms swayed gently in the breeze, or during a rainstorm when the grey sky and heavy clouds hung low, and the wind blew in gusts, one could work in a completely peaceful atmosphere at the Academia and forget that it was only a few feet to the busy thorough-fare in front of the Congressional Building, with the confusion typical of a street in the center of a busy city. Dr. Jose Moncada Home, the Director of the ..iblioteca hacional . and his staff were most helpful as I sought materials there. Others who deserve recognition for their assistance include Dr. Enrique Bernardo Eurfez, an outstanding historian and the Cronista of the city of Caracas; Dr. Marco Aurelio Vila, eminent geographer and professor of the at the Universidad Central : SerTorita Alcira Ruiz Larre, Director Director Diblioteea de la Universidad Central : Sefforita Blanca Alvarez, of the Bscuela de .iblioteconoiTna of the Facultad de Filosofxa y Letra s Samperio, Chief of the at the Universidad Central : Dr. Jos4 V. Hontesino the Direccjon General de Estaaistica, Departmento de „4todo y An^lisis . of - ,:inisterjo de Foments.; SeHor J. Roberto Lovera, Presi y Censo hacionales . Manuel Delgado Rovati, Director de dente of the Conse.lo municipal : SeKor iv Industrias . Binisterio de Fomento : and Sefior Diego -lucete Castro, Director de Turismo . Hinisterio de Fomento . To those in Venezuela appreciation must be expressed to Mr. Andrew Wilkison, Cultural Attache at the American Em- bassy in Caracas, for his assistance in many ways. In the United States the list is as formidable. Dr. Donald Worcester, Chairman of the History Department of the University of Florida, directed my work, even during the year he spent lecturing in Spain. He and other members of ny Advisory Committee have been most helpful and encourag- ing, and have been generous with their time. These men are Dr. lyle N. McAlister, History; Dr. Raymond Crist, Geography; Dr. Robert W. Bradbury, Economics; Dr. T. Lynn Smith, Sociology; and Dr. A. Curtis Wilgus, Di- rector of the School of Inter-American Studies. I have been honored to have the able assistance of such outstanding men. Ho historical work may be completed without the assistance of able librarians. I shall be ever grateful to the librarians at the University of Florida for their perseverance in tracking down materials and for their graciousness to me. To name them I would have to name al- most the entire Library staff but special mention must be made of the assistance of Dr. Irene Zimmerman, Mrs. Margaret Duer, and Miss Imogens Hixson. To all of the librarians and particularly to Hiss Abi Russell, Head Librarian at my own school, Alabama College, the State College of Liberal Arts, I wish to express appreciation for many services and es- pecially for securing materials not easily available. Two others who have assisted me must be mentioned. I am most Service at grateful to Sertor Francisco J. Lara, Director of Information he secured the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, D. C., for the materials V for me, and his advice on securing other materials. To Dr. John Harrison, former Director of the Latin American Division of the National Archives in Washington, I wish to express my gratitude for the letters he wrote on my behalf, and for the valuable suggestions he made. Last, but far from least, to my mother and ay aunt I express deep appreciation for their thoughtfulness and forbearance during the time I was doing the research and the writing. Without them this study might well never have been completed. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE ii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS viii INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter I. THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF CARACAS 11 Site Climate Indians Early Attempts to Found the City of Caracas II. THE PEOPLE OF CARACAS 36 Growth of Population Metropolitan Area Racial and National Origins Population Characteristics III. THE COLONIAL CABILDO OF CARACAS 57 Early Development Officers of the Cabildo Rights and Duties of the Cabildo of Caracas Municipal Finances Unusual Privileges of the Cabildo The Church and the Cabildo IV. THE ECONOMY OF CARACAS IN THE COLONIAL PERIOD 10 6 Economic Conditions, 1567 to 1730 Economic Conditions, 1730 to 1784 Economic Conditions after 1784 V. THE ECONOMY OF CARACAS IN THE NATIONAL PERIOD 147 From the Revolution to 1920 From 1920 to the Present vi Chapter Pag® VI. INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT l6l Early Colonial Period Late Colonial Period National Period VII. GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF CARACAS 195 The Concejo Municipal Federal Agencies Participating in Development Projects Capital for Development in Caracas Government Receipts Foreign Capital Public Works Projects in Caracas VHI. CARACAS IN TRANSITION 233 APPENDIX 240 BIBLIOGRAPHY 241 vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1, llap of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas ix 2, The Concejo Municipal Building 56 3, Yesterday and Today in Caracas 19^ The Old Franciscan Monaster and El Norte « the Modem Sl<yscraper viii iX INTRODUCTION The city of Santiago de Leon de Caracas, which has long been called by only the last portion of its name, Caracas, has many unique characteristics. Founded early in the colonial period, its location was in a small agricultural valley, rather than in an important mineral- producing area. It was off the regular route of traffic between Spain and the New World. In the colonial period it was given many special political prerogatives and faced many dire economic situations. It suf- fered a long period of economic stagnation in the late colonial period which continued until well into nationhood. It has experienced a recent upsurge of growth and development which has been phenomenal. Such a city deserves serious study. Use of the Names Caracas and Venezuela At this ppint mention should be made of the confusion which has arisen over the use of the names Caracas and Venezuela. Caracas has been used to designate the municipality of Santiago de Leon de Caracas, the single northcentral province in which the city of Caracas was located, and even to indicate the several associated provinces. This has led to a confusion for which some clarification should be made. In most of the colonial period Caracas was the name used to designate the single province, and Venezuela was used to indicate the province of Caracas and the group of surrounding provinces. Governor Pimentel in his Relacion geoKrafica y descrjpcidn de la provincia de Caracas y gobernacj6n de Venezuela wrote 1 2 of the Provincia de Caracas en la gobernacion de Venezuela . The gober- nacion . it seems, comprised the provinces of Caracas, Cumani, Maracaibo, Guayana, and the Isles of Margarita and Trinidad. There was much devia- ation from the use of Venezuela as Pimentel used it. These provinces were not unified politically until late in the eighteenth century. For most of the colonial period each had its own governor, but at various times one or another of the provinces was placed under the authority of the governor of Caracas for short periods. Although the offices of governor and captain general were considered separate offices, often they were held by one man. It was not until 1776 that any unity was effected among the Venezuelan provinces. On December 8 the Intendencia de E.iercito y Real Hacienda was created for the provinces of "Venezuela, Cumana y Maracaibo, 1 e islas de Trinidad y Margarita." Venezuela is used instead of Caracas in this case to designate the province.