Hugo Chavez
By Drew Shapiro and Alex Ferguson
Essential Question
In what way did Hugo Chavez use his presidential power to leave a mark on his country and the world around him?
Early Years
Out of high school, Chavez attended the Military Academy in Venezuela and graduated with a degree in Military Sciences and Arts.
On December 17, 1982 Chavez founded the Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement
He studied political science at Simon Bolivar University during 1989-1990
Chavez led an unsuccessful coup on February 4, 1992 and was imprisoned, but later pardoned in 1994
- He organized the Fifth Republican Movement
Rise To Power
Became a presidential candidate in 1998 and won with 56% of the votes
Chavez pledged to and reformed the Constitution to make it so the people had more power
Reelected for another 6 year term in 2000
Saw to the downfall of the two parties who safeguarded the interest of the rich
Chavez passes laws for expropriation of farmland and more government control in the oil industry
Mass riots broke out and Chavez resigned under the pressure from the military in 2002
Chavez was reinstated when his supporters took control of the presidential palace
Another riot broke out and damaged the country’s petroleum industry
On December 3, 2006 Chavez won his third presidential election with 62% of the vote
The country’s poor strongly supported Chavez
- Inspired the rise of other leftist leaders in a movement, which supported socialism and opposed U.S. influence, called Bolivarianism
- "The Devil is right at home. The Devil, the Devil himself, is right in the house. And the Devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the Devil came here. Right here. And it smells of sulphur still today. Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the Devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world."
- Chavez’ supporters thought he was right in criticizing President Bush in his speeches made in 2006
In June 2011, Chavez started his battle with cancer
On October 7, 2012 Chavez won his fourth presidential election with 55% of the vote
Chavez announced on December 8, 2012 that he was going to need a fourth surgery
Chavez remained hospitalized and unable to speak and was flown back home in February
- He later died March 5, 2013
“What hurts me most is poverty and that is what has led me to become a rebel”
Video Analysis - The Life and Times of Hugo Chavez Video
Hugo Chavez once said “What hurts me most is poverty and that is what has led me to become a rebel”. This Video explains the life of Chavez and his accomplishments or movements once he became a rebel and rose to power. Although many people cherish his actions, many also rebelled against him. When he joined the military, he got the position as Kernel. While in power he rewrote the laws and the constitution to give himself more power and he also changed the presidential term from 5 to 6 years. He also would control the businesses that he disapproved of, trampled on the rights of others, and would imprison people without trial. The less wealthy people liked him because he promised to spread the wealth to them which would greatly help them financially. The people rebelled against him and sent a coup to try to overthrow him. The coup failed and Chavez blamed the United States. He questioned all of the Unites States accomplishments and even tried to blame the earthquake that happened in Venezuela on them.
Works Cited
"Hugo Chávez." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.