Venezuela has since 1848 been under the…

Venezuela has since 1848 been under the dictatorial rule of José Tadeo Monagas or his younger brother, José Gregoria Monagas, who have alternated in the country’s highest office and have tried to extend the presidential term from four to six years.

In March 1858, the brother autocrats are been overthrown in a revolution engineered by Conservatives and Liberals, who are both vying for power.

Civil strife erupts promptly among ambitious caudillos (military leaders) in the provinces, and Venezuela becomes embroiled in the so-called Federalist Wars, mainly pitting Conservatives against Liberals, with the former wanting a centralized government and the latter federalism and democracy.