Independence Declaration Day, known in Spanish as 'Declaración de la independencia', commemorates the formation of a local junta in Caracas in 1810.
Venezuela can be pardoned for having two independence days because it was one of the first countries to go on the long revolutionary path to the end of European control in Latin America.
Francsico de Miranda attempted to start a revolution in Venezuela in 1806, but failed. Despite its failure, the effort created the seeds of an insurgency, and events in Europe a few years later would give the independence cause more impetus.
Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain in 1808 and crowned his brother Joseph. Many Spanish colonies in Latin America remained loyal to ousted King Ferdinand. On April 17, 1810, word of Ferdinand's decisive defeat by Napoleon reached Caracas, where the populace decided freedom was preferable to French tyranny.
On April 19, 1810 (Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday), Venezuela's Captain General, Vicente Emparan, was removed, paving the way for the founding of the Supreme Junta of Caracas, one of the first independent governments in Latin America.
The Junta ruled until March 2, 1811, when the First National Congress established a triumvirate consisting of Cristóbal Mendoza, Juan Escalona, and Baltasar Padrón.
Francsico de Miranda returned from exile and continued his campaign for independence. A few months later, on July 5, 1811, the Declaration of Independence was signed, establishing the First Republic of Venezuela. The Spanish fought the push for independence, and the revolution and republic were put down in 1812.
However, this first proclamation of independence indicated that ultimate freedom was just a matter of time, and Venezuela gained independence nine years later in 1821 under the leadership of Simon Bolivar.
