Sustaining Empire: Venezuela's Trade with the United States during the Age of Revolutions, 1797-1828

During the Venezuelan independence struggles, trade with the United States helped to prolong Spanish colonial rule by providing a source of revenue and stability for the colonial elite. However, food insecurity, deprivation, and political uncertainty made Venezuela vulnerable to revolution, and after Spain's crisis of sovereignty in 1808, trade with the United States became an impediment to Venezuelan independence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

From 1790 to 1815, a significant portion of the Atlantic World experienced turmoil due to European imperial wars. While the citizens of the United States reaped the benefits from the waste of blood and treasure, Spanish American colonists faced challenges in preserving their prosperity on the periphery of an imperial empire. Along the Caribbean coast of South America, colonial elites and officials engaged in fierce battles to safeguard Venezuela from external threats such as foreign invasions, slave rebellions, and revolutions. For these elites, trading with the United States and other neutral nations was not a means to undermine colonial rule but rather a strategy to ensure the well-being and happiness of their loyal subjects under the Spanish Crown. However, food insecurity, deprivation, and political instability left Venezuela vulnerable to the outbreak of revolution.

In his book "Sustaining Empire," Edward P. Pompeian provides a unique perspective on liberal free trade as seen by colonial Venezuelans. From the vantage point of the slave-holding elite, which revolutionary figures like Simón Bolívar belonged to, neutral commerce was considered a valuable and effective tool for preserving the colonial status quo. However, after Spain's crisis of sovereignty in 1808, it became a hindrance to Venezuelan independence. Pompeian's analysis delves into the diplomatic and economic connections between the newly established US republic and revolutionary Latin American governments. He emphasizes that the United States does not exist in isolation and that historical relationships between nations hold significance in both the past and the present.

By examining an overlooked region, Pompeian offers a novel interpretation of early United States relations with Latin America. He demonstrates how US merchants executed government contracts and established monopolies in flour, tobacco, and slave trading, which facilitated the expansion of US influence in the region. This study sheds light on the complex dynamics between nations, commerce, and colonialism, providing valuable insights into the historical context of US-Latin American relations.

Weight: 635g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421443386