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The 'Congress of Angostura' was summoned by Simon Bolivar and took place in Angostura (today Ciudad Bolivar) from February 15, 1819 to July 31, 1821, during the wars of Independence of Colombia and Venezuela. Important parts of the countries were still under Spanish ruling, so only delegates from Venezuela participated in the beginning. Delegates from New Granada and Ecuador joint in the congress some time later.
An important output was the creation of the 'Republic of Colombia' on December 17, 1819, joining Venezuela and the New Granada. In order to differentiate it from present Republic of Colombia, historians have traditionally called it Gran Colombia, Great Colombia or Greater Colombia.
Three departments conformed the new country: Venezuela, Cundinamarca (what today is Colombia, Panama and some parts of Central America) and Quito (today Ecuador). Simon Bolívar was elected president, Francisco Antonio Zea vicepresident, Juan Germán Roscio vicepresident of Venezuela and Francisco de Paula Santander vicepresident of Cundinamarca.
In its first meeting on February 19, 1819, Bolivar addressed the Congress with the famous Speech of Angostura, but not all of his proposals were accepted.
The Congress of Angostura can be considered Venezuela's second legislative congress with the creation of Venezuelan Constitution of 1819 on August 15.

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External links

See also

★ Speech of Angostura in Spanish

Notes

External links

★ Bolivar's message to the Congress of Angostura