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Mar 11, 1551
Inca Empire
Chile was originally under the control of the Incas in the north and the nomadic Araucanos in the south. In 1541, a Spaniard, Pedro de Valdivia, founded Santiago. Chile won its independence from Spain in 1818 under Bernardo O'Higgins and an Argentinian, José de San Martin. -
Govener Past
The governor of Chile, Francisco Antonio García Carrasco, was involved in a huge scandal in October of 1808. The British whaling Frigate Scorpion visited Chilean shores to sell a load of smuggled cloth, and García Carrasco was part of a conspiracy to steal the smuggled goods.the robbery, the captain of the Scorpion and some sailors were murdered, and the resulting scandal forever besmirched García Carrasco’s name. For a while, he could not even govern and had to hide out at his hacienda in Conce -
Argentine Independence
n May, 1810, Argentine Patriots took power in what was known as the May Revolution, essentially deposing the Viceroy. Governor García Carrasco attempted to assert his authority by arresting two Argentines, José Antonio de Rojas and Juan Antonio Ovalle, as well as Chilean patriot Bernardo de Vera Pintado and sending them to Peru, where another Spanish Viceroy still clung to power. Furious Chilean patriots did not allow the men to be deported: they took to the streets and demanded an open town ha -
Independence
On September 18, 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring their independence. This declaration eventually led to over a decade of violence and warring which did not end until the last royalist stronghold fell in 1826. September 18 is celebrated in Chile as Independence Day. -
End of Independence
his declaration eventually led to over a decade of violence and warring which did not end until the last royalist stronghold fell in 1826. September 18 is celebrated in Chile as Independence Day. -
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Non Comunist Country
n 1970, Salvador Allende became the first president in a non-Communist country freely elected on a Marxist program. Allende quickly established relations with Cuba and the People's Republic of China, introduced Marxist economic and social reforms, and nationalized many private companies, including U.S.-owned ones. In Sept. 1973, Allende was overthrown and killed in a military coup covertly sponsored by the CIA, ending a 46-year era of constitutional government in Chile. -
Todays LIfe
Chile's path to Independence would be a bloody one, as patriots and royalists would fight up and down the nation for the next decade. Nevertheless, independence was inevitable for the former Spanish colonies and the September 18 meeting was an important first step. Today, September 18 is celebrated in Chile as their Independence Day. It is remembered with the fiestas patrias or "national parties." The celebrations kick off in early September and can last for weeks. All over Chile, people celebr
