Even before the Congress began its sessions in November 1810 , a civil war started between those who supported the juntas , and eventually independence , and royalists who wanted to maintain the union with Spain . Two provinces , Maracaibo Province and Guayana Province , and one district , Coro , never recognized the Caracas Junta and remained loyal to the governments in Spain . Military expeditions to bring Coro and Guayana under the control of the Republic failed . In 1811 an uprising in Valencia against the Republic was successfully suppressed . By 1812 the situation increasingly became aggravated for the young Republic . It was short of funds , Spanish Regency set up a blockade ( although it was easily bypassed by British and American merchant ships ) , and , shortly after , on 26 March 1812 , a devastating earthquake affected republican areas . In these desperate moments , Miranda was given dictatorial powers , nevertheless , he was unable to stem the royalist advance headed by Captain Domingo de Monteverde . By midyear , after the Battle of San Mateo , the Republic collapsed . Miranda capitulated to Monteverde and signed an armistice on 25 July 1812
devastating earthquake
1812 Caracas earthquake
Venezuelan War of Independence