History of Venezuela reconquest. Only as part of Bolívar's campaign to liberate New Granada in 1819-20 did Venezuela achieve a lasting independence from Spain (initially as part of Gran Colombia). On 17 December 1819, the Congress of Angostura declared Gran Colombia an independent country. After two more years of war, the country achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of its most famous son, Simón Bolívar. Venezuela, along with the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador, formed part of the Republic of Gran Colombia until 1830, when Venezuela became a separate sovereign country. Some Venezuelans began to grow resistant to colonial
Subdivisions of Gran Colombia Subdivisions of Gran Colombia The Republic of Gran Colombia was a former independent country in northern South America, a post-Spanish colonial country that existed from 1819 to 1831. Its initial subdivisions, created in 1820, were revised and expanded in 1824. The initial country subdivision of Gran Colombia was into three departments, without larger districts or smaller provinces. They were: The Distrito del Norte (northern district) was in present-day Venezuela and parts of Guyana and Brazil. Its departments and provinces were: The Distrito del Centro (central district) was in present-day Colombia and Panamá. Its departments and provinces were: The Distrito del