In 2025, Venezuela is once again in the crosshairs of US foreign policy, facing the threat of military intervention and heightened sanctions from a new Trump administration. But to understand the resilience of the Venezuelan people today, we must look back to a pivotal moment in their history that is often overlooked: the "Trienio" of 1945-1948.In this episode, Nick explores the dramatic coup of October 1945, led by young officers like Carlos Delgado Chalbaud and the democratic party Acción Democrática. We delve into how a military uprising transformed into a radical experiment in social democracy—quadrupling budgets for health and housing, eradicating malaria, and enfranchising the illiterate and women for the first time. Drawing on Keith Lowe’s&nbsp;The Fear and the Freedom, we ask: Why did this democratic spring terrify the elites? And how does the memory of this revolution continue to shape Venezuelan resistance to US imperialism today?Key Topics:<ul><li>The 1945 Coup:&nbsp;How junior officers and democrats toppled a dictatorship.</li><li>The Trienio (1945-48):&nbsp;A brief golden age of literacy, health, and worker power.</li><li>Oil and Sovereignty:&nbsp;The radical decision to split oil profits 50/50, setting a global precedent.</li><li>Class War:&nbsp;Why the middle classes and traditional elites revolted against the "government of espadrille-wearing peasants."</li><li>Modern Parallels:&nbsp;US interventionism from 1945 to the Trump doctrine of 2025.</li></ul>Books Mentioned:<ul><li>The Fear and the Freedom&nbsp;by Keith Lowe</li><li>War is a Racket&nbsp;by Smedley Butler</li><li>The Spanish Holocaust&nbsp;by Paul Preston</li></ul>Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content<a href="https://www.patreon.com/explaininghistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory</a>▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast</a><a href="https://theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com</a>▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper<a href="https://explaininghistory.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website: explaininghistory.org</a><hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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The Forgotten Revolution: Venezuela’s Democratic Spring of 1945

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