On July 14, 17189 a shot was heard all over the world: the Bastille had been taken. Driven by Enlightenment ideas, a rigid class system and resentment towards the monarchy, on this day the French decided to take matters into their own hands. Over the next three years, the French overthrew their monarch and established a government and constitution that promised equal rights for all. As they say, history repeats itself. This was also the case in Latin America. By 1810, revolutionary fervor had spread to Venezuela. The revolution here was caused by similar reasons. As a colony of Spain, Venezuela had no representative government or equality for all its citizens. Peninsulars, or European-born Spaniards, held all important government positions. Like the French nobility, the Peninsulares did not have to pay taxes. Their children (provided they were also born in Europe), had many educational opportunities. Below the peninsulas were the Creoles, or Venezuelans of Spanish origin. The Creoles owned much of the land, but were considered inferior to the Peninsulars. Like the French bourgeoisie, Creoles had to pay high taxes and were subject to severe regulation. Creoles were disillusioned with what they saw as social and political inequality and wished to gain self-representation in government. Initially hesitant, the Creoles declared their independence amid the weakening of the Spanish crown and the spread of Enlightenment ideas. The Venezuelan Revolution was influenced by the French Revolution by the spread of Enlightenment ideas, social inequality, the discontent of the Creoles and their desire to gain independence from France and form a new democratic government. The spread of Enlightenment ideas influenced ..... . half of paper ......cy on every corner of the world.Works CitedAdams, Jerome R. Liberators and Patriots of Latin America. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland & Company Inc., Publishers, 1991. Print. "Latin America". Trincoll.edu. Np, May 10, 2000. Web. February 13, 2012. .Niles, Patricia. “The Enlightenment”. Novaonline. Niles and CT Evans, May 7, 2011. Web. February 13, 2012. .Peeler, John A. Latin American Democracies. Chapel Hill, NC and London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1985. Print.Smitha, Frank E. “Rebellion against Spain in Latin America.” Macrohistory and world relationship. Frank E. Smitha, 2011. Web. 13 February 2012. .Wepman, Dennis. Simone Bolivar. Np: Chelsea House Publishers, 1985. Print.