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Jan 1, 1535
Part 2-Araucanian People hold off Spanish Advances
Until 1814 the Arauncain people successful held off Spanish advances. -
Jan 1, 1535
Araucanian People Hold off Spanish Advances
Since ancient times, indigenous Araucanian people had lived in the present day territory of Chile. The Araucanian people in Chile were known as Mapuche and grew corn, maize, and other vegetables as well as raising guinea pigs and llamas for meat. When the Spanish began to arrive in Chile and attempt to colonize it, the Mapuche formed a widespread alliance and adopted battle strategies to hold off Spanish advances and fought in the widespread Araucanian Wars. -
Jan 1, 1541
Pedro de Valdiva begins Spainish Conquests
While the Araucanian People had sucessful resisted Spanish rule in Chile, by 1541 a new party of conqustitors had arrived in Chile led by Pedro de Valdivia. Valdivia was fairly sucessful in his conquest and founded the capitol city of Santiago. He was captured and killed by the Araucanian people but Spain kept controlnever regained full control of Chile untill around 1810. -
Chile Gains Independance
For many years battles raged between between the Spain and Chile’s natives as well as Spanish settlers. Bernardo O’Higgins along with Jose de San Martin led this revolt and freed Chile from Spanish rule in 1818. O’Higgins named himself supreme dictator, and on February 12, he signed the Chilean Declaration of Independance. Later in the Battle of Maipu, O’Higgins defeated a newly led expedition from Spain and officially gained independence from Spain on April 5th. -
Part 2-Cile Civil War
....and often were colonial aristocracy. The Liberals were followers of Jose Miguel Carrera and wanted a free, independent government that was separate from the Church. The Chilean Civil War of 1829 was fought between the Bigwigs and Liberals and was eventually won by the Bigwigs who created a new constitution that lasted for over 100 years and indorsed a authoritarian presidential system and encouraged a parliamentary system. -
Chile Civil War
In 1823, O’Higgins was forced to resign and a civil war between liberal federalists and the conservative centralists began. Throughout these years turmoil raged through the country where presidents were elected and ruled for short periods of time and then were quickly excised. Followers of O’Higgins were called Bigwigs and wanted a strong central government, a strong support of the Catholic Church, and often were colonial aristocracy. The Liberals were followers of Jose Miguel Carrera and want -
War of the Pacific
After many years of cooperation while fighting against Spain and Portugal, disputes began to arise over the mineral-rich provinces owned by Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. The war of the Pacific started on February 14, 1879 when Chile occupied the Port City of Antofagasta with Bolivia protesting the situation and eventually declaring a state of war. Chile declared war on both nations when Peru didn’t declare it’s neutrality, and the battles began at the Atacama desert as well as a naval campaign. -
Part 2-War of the Pacific
After 5 years of battles, Chile’s superior land army helped them win the war and defeat both Bolivia and Peru. Chile increased it’s territory by one third and gained the territories of Tarapaca, Litoral, Tacna, and Arica. -
Revolution of 1891
The second Civil War in Chile occurred over constitutional rights between the President and Congress. The conflict between the Congress and President occurred because of a series of disagreements between the two sides involving how much power the President had and what Congress could veto. When the president pushed a budget in a way that Congress viewed as illegal, the conflict officially began. -
Part 2-Revolution of 1891
The Chilean Army sided with the President while the Navy sided with Congress causing a bloody conflict to occur. In less than a year, the Congress quickly won the battles that resulted in 10,000 casualties. When the Congress won the war, President Balmaceda committing suicide and the country historically switched from a Liberal republic to a true Parliamentary era where the President had significantly less power. -
1925 Chilean Constitution
In the 1920’s Chile suffered severe social and economic crisis that helped end the prestige of the old ruling class and helped the people of Chile gain even more power. The new constitution had several new points that modernized Chile’s government, social, and economic systems. The Constitution separated the Church from the State allowing events like the legalization of divorce in 2004. -
1925 Chilean Constitution
The new constitution also gave more power to the legislative branches and helped democratize elections that were often manipulated in many parts of the country. -
Carlos Ibanez Seizes Power in Chile
After the Church and Government were separated in 1925, General Carlos Ibanez came to power in 1927 after the falling apart of many political parties in Chile. Ibanez began to exercise excessive power in Chile and soon turned the state into a dictatorship. Even though he suspended many elections and exiled many leaders, he was supported by the people because he created a police force, made massive improvements to public projects, an improvements to public projects, and improved public spending. -
Part 2-Carlos Ibanez Siezes Power in Chile
When the stock market crashed, Ibanez lost support and political change occurred in Chile for many years, including communist powers almost reaching high places in office before they were banned. Ibanez’s dictatorship led to the extremist reign of dictator Augusto Pinochet. -
Augusto Pinochet Dictatorship
In 1973 a coup d’etat supported by the United States seized power in Chile and put Chile under military rule. After confusion in a tied election that had involved many bribes, Augusto Pinochet assumes leadership forcefully from Alledene. After many years of political stability, Pinochet’s dictatorship caused thousands of casualties and the abolishment of Congress as well as thousands of people fleeing Chile to escape Pinochet’s harsh rule. -
Part 2-Augusto Pinochet Dictatorship
Pinochet ruled under a tight fist and killed many people who did not support his government. Estimates state that up to 3,200 people were killed and around 30,000 were tortured. But, pinochet also improved Chile’s economy and started global trade, a free-trade market, and privatized thousands of government controlled businesses. In 1990, democracy is restored but Pinochet still remained an important part of government even after attempts to exile him. -
New Chilean Constutution
After General Pinochet finally resigned in 2002 as a lifetime senator, changes began to fix his once corrupt government. Over 50 reforms were improved in 2005 to help improve Chile’s government. One reform cancelled the non-democratic practice of non-elected senators and lifetime senators(Ex. Pinochet). Another reform allowed the President to remove the Commander in Chief of the armed forces as well as stripping the National Security Council( military-dominated body) of it’s power. -
Part 2-New Chilean Constitution
Most of these important reforms were made to stop another military dictatorship like Pinochet’s from taking over the government, and these important reforms used checks and balances to stop another dictator to every be able to influence Chile for over 17 years as well as commit humanitarian crimes like Pinochet. -
Chile-China Trade Agreement
In November 2005, former President of Chile Richard Lagos and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed an important free trade agreement in Chile. The agreement established free trade between Chile and China and was the first trade agreement between China and a South American country. China and Chile are now each other’s first partner in imports and exports with China received $18 billion dollars of exports from Chile. -
Part 2- Chile-China Trade Agreement
$14 billion dollars of copper have also went from Chile to China and trade between the two countries is huge. This trade agreement encouraged a post-civil war China to begin world trade with other countries after it’s extremely beneficial trade deal with Chile. Trade has grown by over 22% and has greatly benefited both country’s economy as well as China being an usefully ally for Chile especially when helping Chile wean off it’s dependance on the US for weapons.
