Great Falcón Zulia State, Venezuela (1881-1890): The Decade of Silence a cultural historical perspective

Abstract

Introduction: At the end of the 19th century, the loss and subsequent recovery of the autonomy of the Zulia state (Venezuela), generated a debate between centralists and autonomics worthy of historiographical analysis Objective: To interpret the historical-cultural process that occurred in western Venezuela during the period 1881-1890, with the creation of the Falcón-Zulia State by President Antonio Guzmán Blanco; The circumstances that justify the passivity of Zulians in the face of a decision that ran over their regional autonomy are recognized. Methodology: Represents a documentary research, based on the review of primary sources corresponding to the Zulia State Historical Archive, and secondary references that clarify the thinking of the literate and economically privileged men of the 19th century. Results and discussion: Initially the Zulians passively tolerated the integrationist measure, however, 9 years later a movement for the recovery of the lost autonomy was promoted, materializing in 1890 the formal decision to return Zulia to its status as a sovereign state. This belated reaction corresponds to the respect that the marabina leadership expressed towards the figure of Guzmán Blanco for his condition as guarantor leader of political stability and national commercial development; in contrast to the characteristics of the caudillos who succeed him in the central power, who begin to interfere with what had been in the 1880s an autonomous process in relation to regional commercial development. Conclusions: The regional history chapter analyzed and the resolution of the proposed conflict meant the reaffirmation of the exacerbated regionalism that identifies the people of Zulia.