Rojas Paúl, Juan Pablo (1829–1905)

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Rojas Paúl, Juan Pablo (1829–1905)

Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl (b. 1829; d. 1905), Liberal president of Venezuela (1888–1890). Following a failed coup attempt by General Joaquín Crespo, Rojas Paúl was selected as the presidential candidate by former dictator Antonio Guzmán Blanco. Rojas Paúl took office heading a divided Liberal Party and facing serious civil strife in Venezuela. Nevertheless, his progressive attitudes and generosity soon won over even former enemies, including Crespo. Rojas Paúl reinstated freedom of the press, resurrected the idea of responsible government, and created the National Academy of History in 1888. His efforts to achieve a modicum of liberal democracy were rewarded in 1890 when he successfully and peacefully transferred power to Raimundo Andueza Palacio. He then served as a senator but was exiled by Andueza in 1891.

See alsoAndueza Palacio, Raimundo; Guzmán Blanco, Antonio Leocadio; Venezuela: Venezuela since 1830.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Francisco González Guinan, Episodio histórico: Historia del gobierno del doctor Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl (1925).

Hugo Lequízamon, Breve historia de Venezuela, 1810–1979 (1980).

John V. Lombardi, Venezuela: The Search for Order, the Dream of Progress (1982).

Additional Bibliography

Tavera-Marcano, Carlos Julio. El gobierno civil de Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl y el guzmanicismo, 1888–1890. Caracas: Impr. Universitaria, 2004.

                                         Karen Racine

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