Chile's Independence

By gegirard
  • Nov 17, 1535

    A Spanish conqueror explores Chile

    A Spanish conqueror explores Chile
    Diego de Almagro was hoping to find gold and silver. Him and his men set out from Peru to explore the surrounding land. They traveled to Chile but left because they found no riches.
  • Feb 12, 1541

    Spanish conquest of Chile begins

    Spanish conquest of Chile begins
    Pedro Valdivia leads a group of men from Peru to Chile’s Central Valley and begins the Spanish conquest of Chile. He founds Santiago.
  • Nov 17, 1553

    Natives capture and kill Pedro Valdivia

    Natives capture and kill Pedro Valdivia
    The Mapuche killed Valdivia and the majority of his men in a battle. They refused to be under the control of the Spaniards.

  • Chile gained independence

    Chile gained independence
    Because Spain was occupied by the French army the natives revolted. A small group took the chance and declared Chile’s independence. They formed a Junta, which is a small group that rules by order.

  • Spain regains control of Chile

    Spain regains control of Chile
    Two men, Carrera and O’Higgins, were fighting over ruling the Junta. Spain took this opportunity to enter Chile from Peru. They then regained control of Chile.

  • The Spanish are defeated by the Army of the Andes at the battle of Chacabuco.

    The Spanish are defeated by the Army of the Andes at the battle of Chacabuco.
    Bernardo O’Higgins and the Argentine general José de San Martín led the Army of the Andes. This army defeated the Spanish army near Santiago, at a place called Chacabuco.

  • Chile becomes completely independent

    Chile becomes completely independent
    The Army of the Andes defeated the Spanish army again at the Maipo River. This was the final battle that secured Chile’s independence. Bernardo O’Higgins becomes Chile’s first leader.

  • O’Higgins is forced to resign.

    O’Higgins is forced to resign.
    Chile was divided into two political parties: the Conservatives and the Liberals. Neither of these parties supported O’Higgins. Due to this, he was forced to resign.

  • Chile defeats Peru and Bolivia in the War of the Pacific.

    Chile defeats Peru and Bolivia in the War of the Pacific.
    In the 1870’s there was a quarrel between Chile and Bolivia about control over the nitrate deposits in the Atacama Desert. When Peru sided with Bolivia on this issue, they all fought in a war called the War of the Pacific. After winning this war, Chile gained lots of territory that contained copper deposits and nitrates.

  • National Congress didn’t approve the president’s spending plans.

    National Congress didn’t approve the president’s spending plans.
    In previous years, Liberal political leaders had disliked a majority of the president’s ideas. In 1890, the National Congress wouldn’t approve José Manuel Balmaceda, the president’s, ideas about finances. This resulted in a civil war where most of Balmaceda’s men were defeated and Balmaceda killed himself.