History of Chile

The history of Chile can be divided into twelve historical periods . These periods cover the time interval which goes since the beginning of the human settlement on the territory of current the Chile (towards 10 500 av J-C) until our days.

According to the theory of the passage of the men by the Bering Strait through the “bridge of Beringia”, during the last glaciation known under the name of Wurm by the European and like Wisconsin by the American , Chile in located in the southernmost part of the South America and in the zone Western, on the Pacific Ocean. It was the last zone of America to being populated.

The Wurm-Wisconsin glaciation, lasted approximately: 50000 years. According to the scientific , the “bridge of Beringia” could be crossed during: 4000 years during its first period and: 15000 years during the last glaciation. From there, the man moves towards the south of the continent towards the territory of current the Argentine and Chile.

Civilizations précolombiennes

The territory of current the Chile, less populated Unintermitting American, was inhabited by various ethnos groups Amerindian born before the arrival of the Spanish . At the beginning, like primitive company, the Amerindians were organized in wandering tribes. Then little by little these populations discover agriculture and are sédentarisent. The archaeological discoveries oldest of the Pays are in Monteverde, close to Puerto Montt and go back to: 10500 front J-C. Certain research carried out with the cueva Fell, an archaeological layer of Ground of fire (the most southern place of the country), indicates that the human presence goes back to 7 000 front J. - C.

The ic changes Climate of seventh front millenium J-C, brutally changed the practices of the Chilean paleoindigenes which had to adapt. With the Désert of Atacama much of species disappear and the Pacific Ocean delimits the current Côte S. These Amerindians had to adapt to a climate more Chaud that before. Many Amerindians of north moved towards the coasts and the central valley. Thus, are formed the Chilean Amerindian independent groups: Atacama S there Aymara S; in the far North, Diaguita S in the small North; the Chango S on the septentrional coast; the big family Mapuche on the central valley until the Seno de Reloncaví and the Tehuelche S, Chono S, Alacalufe S, Onas and yaganes in Patagonie.

Various research shows that the first populations having lived the country would have arrived towards: 35000 years front J-C, period of the Pleistocene for the prehistoric site of " Assembles Verde I" and towards: 15000 years front J-C for the site of " Assembles Verde II" (end of the Pleistocene and beginning of the Holocene (towards the end of the Paleolithic superior). Chile prehispanic was populated by various Amerindian people which had settled at the same time in the Andes cordillera and coast. In the northern zone of the country, Aymaras and Atacaméniens started about the 11th century of our era to cultivate the ground the made-to-order of Incas (terrace cultivation with mountainside with various drains). At the 15th century, Incas took possession of the territory of current Chile until the river Maule. In the south of Aconcagua, seminomad communities as the Mapuche S were installed. In the southern zone of the country, various Amerindian people lived like Chomos, Tamanas, Alacafuches and Onas. In the Easter Island developed a culture extinct Polynésie nne nowadays.

Peaceful side, various cultures and people coexisted: Aymaras, Changos, Chinchorros, Atacameños, Diaguitas in north; Picunches, Mapuches, Huilliches, Chonos in the central and southern area; and Onas, Yaganes and Alacalufes in the Patagonie and the Ground of Fire. Mapuches formed the most community. During the 15th century the Culture of the indigenous people pueblos was influenced by the expansion of the INCA Empire in the north of the current Chilean territory. The Sapped INCA Pachacutec, helped by the los Sapa Incas Tupac Yupanqui and Huayna Capac. The latter advanced towards the south helped by the people will aymaras, atacameños, diaguitas and picunches. They finally established the southernmost border of the INCA Empire in the North of the river Maule.

Discovered Spaniards

Detailed article: History of Chile précolombien

On arrival of the Spaniards, the territory which will become Chile was inhabited by hundreds of thousands of Amerindians belonging to different cultures. The Amerindians lived mainly of the Agriculture and the Chasse.

The first Europeans to discover the territory of current the Chile were the Portuguese Fernand of Magellan and Juan Sebastian del Cano, at the time of their first Circumnavigation of the Planet under the orders of Carlos I, king of Spain.

Later Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the September 26th 1519 and to recognize most of the coasts of the Argentinian Brazil and , Magellan discovered the strait which connects the Pacific with the Atlantic Ocean, on November 1st 1520, important date of the Chilean Histoire as discovered Chilean territory. Magellan names the strait strait of All the Saints, which will take later the name of its discoverer.

However, the first explorer to discover most of Chile was Diego de Almagro, and Francisco Pizarro at the time of the conquest of the Peru. The arguments which took place with Pizarro for the division of the richnesses of the INCA Empire, mainly for the possession of Cuzco led them to conquer the grounds of the South. Almagro starts from Cuzco in July 1535. Many historians believe that one of the reasons of the voyage of Almagro was the rumor of the existence of a kingdom richer than Peru. This made it possible the Conquistador to try to find other richnesses and thus to cause a rebellion of the Amerindians.

While taking the camino LED INCA (crossing way of the territories corresponding to the territories of current the Bolivia and the north of Argentina), Almagro crosses the Andes cordillera with disastrous results. Indeed, most of the explorers die of Hypothermie. After more than two months of crossing, Almagro arrives finally in the valley of Copiapó, the March 21st 1536.

Almagro organized the recognition of the territory under the governorship of Nueva Toledo (as the territory with the conquistador to some extent with the Hispanic monarch had been called), without finding so much the richnesses required. The battles of Reinohuelén between the natives and one of the patrols, is regarded as being the first battle called Guerre of Arauco. Disappointed and tired voyage, it decides to go back to Peru in 1536 by taking the road Arequipa going towards Cuzco where it rebelled against Pizarro.

Spanish domination

The Conquest

In 1531 the Conquistador S conquered the Peru, which belonged to Incas. Diego de Almagro, which had taken part in the fights against the INCA S, was sent by Pizarre in a mission of exploration beyond the terrible desert of the south of Peru in 1535. This mission runs up against the savage resistance of the Araucans of the tribe of Mapuches. Almagro is seen constrained to beat a retreat, but return to Peru, it is condemned to died by Pizarre for this échec.
Une new forwarding is sent with at its head Pedro de Valdivia in 1540 and 1541. It counts 175 Spaniards and a great number of Amerindian back-up troops. It circumvents Araucans by the sea, founds the February 12th 1541 the town of Santiago then subjects the area to the Spanish domination. The installation of Spanish permanent colonies can then start.

Valvidia dies in 1553 at the time of a combat with Araucans, but the movement of colonization is launched. The soldiers receive authority on vast territories with the Indians who live there, with load for them to protect them and of the évangéliser, that of which they will discharge strong evil. It is the principle of the Encomienda on which the colonization of the Spanish America was built.

The Spaniards did not discover there the immense quantities of Or and money which they hoped for, but they realized of the assets which the zone could represent as regards agriculture. Chile belonged to the Vice-royauté of Peru.

Hispanic colony

Detailed article: Discovered of Chile In 1520, Fernand of Magellan is the first European explorer to put foot on the territory of current Chile after having discovered the strait which currently bears its name. In 1535, the Conquistador be Spanish try to conquer the territory of the valle of Chile as a combatant Incas. The forwarding of Diego de Almagro is a failure. That of Pedro de Valdivia carried out in 1536 is more convincing. Valdivia founds a series of villages like Santiago of the New Extreme the February 12th 1541 or Valdivia in 1545.

Valdivia begins a hard military campaign against the indigenous populations of Mapuches. It is the war of Arauco which Alonso de Ercilla reports with passion in its work Araucana (in 1576). Pedro de Valdivia dies in 1553 following an insurrection of the Amerindians mapuches. The principal invasions of the Amerindians of the south of Chile intervene of 1598 to 1655. Finally the period of history known as the Colony, hard during more than two centuries, during which extends and is consolidated the Spanish domination on the territory, with a notable resistance in the South of the country by the mapuches.

The Royaume of Chile constituted a General Capitainerie with like capital Santiago. The effective control of the territory is reduced only to the central valley until the Fleuve Biobío. Vis-a-vis the general harbor office is the governor S and the general Capitaine, depend them even on the royal Audiencia, chaired by same the governors (reason for whom one names it indifferently governor or president). Audiencia, in addition to serving the Spanish kingdom, has the functions of Tribunal of apelaciones of the kingdom.

Like all the general Harbor office, Chile has a special administration, but in reciprocal base of control, the king Philippe II gives to the governor Vice-royauté of Peru, to set up a system of justice in 1589 which owes " to keep, achieve and carry out its orders, and to announce to him of all which is taken into account ". On the standard basis this, the viceroys see that they depend on the king. However, in certain cases the relations with the governor are directly made with the king and others pass directly with the viceroy of Peru.

The base of the relation is the real cédula previously mentioned, but, there are others that perfilaron the effective type of relation between the harbor office and the viceroy. For example, by the reales cédula, one authorizes with the vice king to intervene in Chile only in the event of “danger and tumult”. The vice king sets up a military strategy in the war of Arauco (defensive war) and, then one orders directly to the governor of Chile to establish soldiers (offensive war). Also the defects kings can relieve the governors, but later have denies these capacities.

In 1683, the Esclavage is abolished and that makes it possible to establish more serene relations between the colonists and the mapuches. Thereafter, various confrontations take place until worms the middle of the 19th century for the most southern ground possession. During one long period, the Biobio river marks the border between the colonial government and the Amerindian tribes. The general harbor office of Chile (also known under the name of Reino de Chile ) is at the time one of the most southern colonies of the Spanish empire. Because of its geographical position, it is a strategic colony, protecting the Magellan Strait and an economic colony whose natural resources were extracted on behalf of the viceroyalty from Peru.

Territorial independence and profits

Independence

As from 1810, the freedom fighters - being opposed to the Spanish loyal supporters - take importance. Of 1812 with 1817 it is a to and from of battles for the control of Santiago of Chile. In 1817, Bernardo O' Higgins reconquers Santiago, becomes dictator, his competitors are assassinated. The independence of Chile is declared the February 12th 1818. Then, contrary to the other countries of Latin America, Chile underwent relatively few coups d'etat and serious disturbance social.

A French adventurer, Orélie Antoine de Tounens is made proclaim king d' Auricanie under the name of Orélie Antoine Ier in 1861, organizes an army of 40 000 men and declares the war in Chile. Captive fact it is interned then released it takes again the war a few months in 1869. The Araucan S of which a part had taken refuge in Argentina were definitively pacified.

Territorial profits

Thus begin a period known under the name of old Patrie, which will last until the Désastre of Rancagua in 1814, when the royalist troops take again the control of the territory. The independence troops cash 6514 soldiers take refuge then with Mendoza, linking their forces with the troops of the province of Argentine which counted 2600 soldiers, thus forming the army of the Andes. The latter releases Chile after the battle of Chacabuco, the February 12th 1817. The following year, the independence of Chile is declared and the country is placed under the authority of Bernardo O' Higgins.

This one starts reforms which cause a dissatisfaction with the Aristocratie, which obliges it to abdicate in 1823. During ten years, Chile is subjected to a series of reforms which try to give an organization to the country. After a series of victories of the conservatives, with the revolution of 1829, one period of stability starts. It is called preserving République. The minister Diego Portales is then the main character of the organization of the country thanks to the Constitution of 1833.

Little by little, the country starts to extend its influence on the continent and extends as well to North as in the South. The economy starts to take off with the ore discovery of Chañarcillo and the growth of the commercial exchanges through the port of Valparaiso. That brings to a conflict for the maritime control of the Pacific with the Peru. The formation of the Peruvian and Bolivian Confederation is regarded as a threat for the stability of Chile. Thus, Portales declares the war which finishes with the victory of the battle of Yungay in 1839 and the dissolution of the Confederation. At the same time, the country tries to take the control of the southern areas. It extends its territory in Araucanie and colonizes Llanquihue, Osorno, Valdivia while making come from the colonist S German S. the area of Magellan is built-in 1843 and the zone of Antofagasta starts to be inhabited.

After thirty years of conservative government (1831 - 1861) one period starts when the liberal party (left, with the anglophone direction of the term) takes possession of the capacity. At this time, the economic growth is exponential, thanks to the exploitation of the Salpêtre in the zone of Antofagasta. This richness causes the anger of the Bolivia which claims the possession of the territory. Even with the signature of several treaties in 1866 and 1871, the two countries do not find a solution. Thus, the February 14th 1879, Chile takes possession of the port of Antogasta, declaring the war in Bolivia. Peru, as for him, beforehand signed a secret pact with Bolivia in the event of conflict with Chile. The war of the Pacific starts. It finishes with the battle of Huamachuco the July 10th 1883 and the victory of Chile. After this conflict, Chile takes possession of the zones of Antofagasta and the provinces of Tarapacá, Arica and Tacna (the latter is restored in Peru in 1929). The country solves occasion consequently the problem of border with Argentina by yielding most of the Patagonie and Puna de Atacama. Lastly, in the south of the territory the war of Arauco with the “pacification” of Araucanie in 1881 finishes and the integration of the Easter Island in 1888.

In 1891, the conflict between the president Jose Manuel Balmaceda and the congress involves the civil war. The congressmen gain the battle and set up the parliamentary Republic.

These years are characterized by one period of economic prosperity, an political instability and the beginning of the proletarian movement called Cuestión Social . This last is set up because of the “bad distribution of the richness”. After ten years of being able of the Oligarchie, Arturo Alessandri Palma is elected. It represents the missing but provisional bond between an elite and the “dear poor” ( queridas chusmas in Spanish). In spite of that, the crisis continues and Alessandri gives up the capacity after having promulgated the Constitution of 1925 which gives rise to Republic of a presidential type.

The 20th century (coups d'etat and democracy)

The decrease in the demand of Nitrate and the first workers' struggles caused by bad work conditions create climate of a social and political instability during the Années 1920. The president Arturo Alessandri undertakes social reforms and promulgates the Constitution of 1925. But the world-wide crisis of 1929 plunges Chile in the recession and social agitation. The governments follow one another as well as the coups d'etat. Carlos Ibáñez del Campo becomes president de facto in 1927 by the will of the people, but the consequences of the First World War (where the country declared itself neutral), the bad economic policy and the means used to reduce the effects of the Grande Depression had consequences on the Salpêtre, thus producing an economic crisis where Chile underwent strong a Economic recession.

Ibáñez leaves its position of president in 1932 and political instability is accentuated by a coup d'etat which gives rise to the Socialist République of Chile which lasts only twelve days before Alessandri takes again the capacity and rectifies the economy. The arrival of Alessandri causes to reduce the tensions between the political parties. There is also a social crisis; new actors require transformations in the way of controlling the country. Pedro Aguirre Cerda is elected president in 1938 thanks to an alliance (the Popular front of Chile) which is opposed to the elite with the capacity. Social and political reforms do of Chile one of the most advanced countries from the point of view of the legislation and social protection. The Cuivre replaces little by little nitrate in the nation's economy (because of the world demand and especially because of discovered mine of Chuquicamata). Progressive industrialization of the country, increase in the number of workmen.

The government of Aguirre Cerda involves one period of radicalism and makes a success of various changes, mainly economic by posing the bases of Chilean industrialization through the creation of CORFO. On the level Géopolitique the country claims the Chilean Territoire of the Antarctic. The reforms stop brutally with the death of the president. Juan Antonio Ríos, his successor, must face the opposition and the pressures of the the United States to declare the war with the Axe during the Second world war, which is made on January 20th 1943. With the support of the Communist party, the radical Gabriel González Videla is elected president in 1946. However, the beginning of the Cold war obliges to prohibit the Communist party through the Law of Defense of the Democracy (Ley Maldita) . In 1952, Ibáñez takes again the capacity and is elected this time Ci, but it loses its importance with the eyes of the population through liberal reforms. In 1958, the independent one of right-hand side Jorge Alessandri is elected. It must face the consequences of the earthquake of Valdivia of 1960, most extremely ever recorded, as well as the organization of the Football world cup, in 1962. The system of the los very tercios (three thirds) is established then composed by the Right-hand side, the Christian Democrat and the Left of the Unidad Popular. Being afraid of the victory of the Left (Unidad Popular), the Line supports the Christian democrat Eduardo Frei Montalva which is elected in 1964. The president tries to carry out the Revolución in Libertad (the Revolution in Freedom) through many reforms like the Land reform and the nationalization of the Cuivre (pertaining to the United States before). At the end of its mandate, the political tension produces a series of confrontations. The obstruction of the right-hand side to the Congress increases.

Government of Allende

detailed Article: Coup d'etat of September 11th, 1973 in Chile
The the United States, did not find useful to help a candidate anti-Marxist, mainly because they think that Alessandri will gain the elections of September. However, from financial means indirectly will help Alessandri, by the company ITT (International Telephone & Telegraph) (approximately: 350000 dollars states-uniens). There is no possible comparison with what the companies gave during the program of Frei, when there was an electoral assistance.

With Washington, Richard Nixon orders to prevent that Allende becomes president. the CIA sets up two plans to prevent that Allende take its functions thanks to the vote of the congress (this last will vote the October 24th), which will be known like the Track One and the Track Two :

the Track One (also known under the name of gambito Frei ) consists of what the congress chooses Alessandri. This last would give up and of new elections would take place where the line would support Eduardo Frei then. However, this plan did not function. Cd. and the UP arrived at an agreement on Allende and one reveals the existence of a secret pact between the two left-wing candidates (Tomic and Allende). In this pact each one gives up the victory of the other if the differences in votes are higher than 5000, and that of Alessandri only if it exceeds: 100000 votes. Finally, the Christian Democrat requires the assistance of the Congress in order to guarantee the constitutional laws, which would ensure the defeat of Allende.

The Track One could not function, it remains the Track Two :

the Track Two consists in creating a mode of political instability, so that the Fuerzas Armadas intervene and cancel the elections. The general Roberto Viaux undertakes to set up this plan. Sedition within the Chilean army is supported, of coordination with the movement of Patrie extreme-right-hand side and Freedom. In October 1970, the chief of staff Schneider, likely to be opposed to a coup d'etat, is assassinated by these seditious elements carried out by the general Roberto Viaux, at the time of an attempt at removal. Rene Schneider is assassinated on October 22nd. Its driver brings it in a military hospital where he dies the October 25th.

The September 4th 1970, at its fourth attempt, the candidate of the popular Unit, Salvador Allende, arrives at the head of the presidential election with 36,6% of the votes and precedes the conservative Jorge Alessandri (34,9%) and the Christian democrat Radomiro Tomic (27,8%). In the absence of new ballot, that which arrives at the head must be confirmed by the Congress, dominated by the Christian democrats and the conservatives. The score of Allende is however in withdrawal of three points compared to its preceding candidature in 1964. The October 24th 1970, the Socialists (then in favor of the introduction of a revolutionary State since the congress of Chillàn in 1967) obtain Christian democrats the nomination of Allende in exchange of the promise to respect freedoms and legality. The alessandrists are afraid of the Socialist government, whereas the allendists and the Christian-Democrats express their joys in the street. Become thus the first president elected democratically on a socialist program, Allende does not have the parliamentary majority. It then decides to control by decree, which avoids to him passing by the Parliament whereas working militia are constituted in the cities and the campaigns to maintain a revolutionary legitimacy. Thus the great land reform is set up and that multiple companies and companies are requisitioned or nationalized (including nine banks out of ten and the mines of copper which represent the three quarters of exports).
In same time, the country saw a larval civil war where working militia and paramilitary groups are opposed fascisants. Working militia are constituted in the cities and the campaigns to maintain a revolutionary legitimacy whereas the visit of Fidel Castro, in 1971, supplements the image of “future Communiste” of Allende. This one then states to take as model the German Democratic republic.
In 1972 begin the “steps of the empty pans” by which the housewives express that they do not have anything any more to cook.
Under the impulse of the United States, the price of the Copper - principal Chilean export fell from approximately 1/3 of 1970 with 1972 whereas the copper mines were nationalized without compensations. The value of Chilean exports decreases, while those of the imports increases (+ 26%). The Chilean company is in crisis, the largely weakened mode of Allende and the Parliament in frank and irreversible opposition to the president.
Pourtant, the popularity of the government increases a little since the legislative elections of 1973 bring to him 43% of the voices compared with 57% to the plain opposition (in lower part from the 60% which would have enabled them to relieve president Allende legally).
He seems whereas the presidency of Allende is promised to last whereas broad fringes of the opposition, in particular with the national Party, disappointed by the legal channels and members of Parliament, call some with the intervention of the soldiers to reverse Allende. The CIA has the role of destabilizing the Chilean mode so “feeding a favorable climate with the coup d'etat”. William Colby, director of the CIA of 1973 to 1976, affirms in its memories, that seven million dollars was spent by the American power station of information to this end. The movement of the strike of the truck-drivers which paralyzes the country in October 1972 is financially constant by the power station. Reacting to the nationalizations carried out by the government of Allende, several American firms whose ITT assists their in this strategy.
Even if serious doubts are allowed, there does not exist however any element making it possible to affirm that the United States directly took part in the coup d'etat itself of September 11th, 1973. If the Nixon administration were magic blow of 1973, the report/ratio of the Commission Church, in 1976, concluded that the United States had not had a direct role in the event. Kissinger affirms in addition that army maneuvers American, one should not lose sight of the fact that he was the principal coordinator, were finished at the time of the blow.
In March 1973, the Christian democrats and the conservatives obtain together 59% of the voices to the legislative elections whereas the popular Unit of Allende obtains her best score, putting it safe from a dismissal if the opposition had obtained two thirds of the voices and the seats.
Un coup d'etat is tried in June 1973 (29), another in July. The chief of the armies, faithful to Allende prefers to resign. It is the general Augusto Pinochet, faithful him also, which replaces it.
The parliamentary opposition comes finally publicly to an official declaration requiring the intervention from the army, whereas the country saw a larval civil war where working militia against paramilitary groups are opposed fascisantes.
During the summer 1973, multiple strikes and insurrections threaten the stability of the country whereas Allende does not hesitate to declare: “If the revolution cannot pass in flexibility, it will pass in force. ” The August 23rd 1973, the president Salvador Allende, names Pinochet general-in-chief of the armies following the resignation of Prats.

Pinochet mode

detailed Article: Military regime of Pinochet (1973-1990)

The September 11th 1973, a coup d'etat carried out by the general Augusto Pinochet, with the support of the CIA, Salvador Allende shift, died by balls (suicide) in the palate of Moneda.

The opponents are stopped, tortured, off-set or carried out whereas the Christian democrats and the conservatives, relieved by the coup d'etat, hope to recover the capacity. But the military junta, directed by the Pinochet general, preserves it until in 1990, imposing a Dictature. The Cinéaste Chris Marker filmed the reception of the refugees (some having been struck) to the embassy of France right after the coup d'etat. A member of a left party is killed without summation with the door of the embassy. The film made in Super 8 is entitled the Embassy (1973, 20 minutes). This junta is made up of the commander-in-chiefs of the three armies and the chief of the police force. She dissolves the national congress, the municipal councils, the trade unions and the political parties. Freedom of the press is abolished, the founded Couvre-feu. All that is literature of left is prohibited.

Admittedly less bloody than in its neighbors, the dictatorship of the Pinochet general responsible of died or the disappearance of 2279 people published in 1990 (by comparison, the last Argentinian dictatorship responsible for thirty thousand died in seven years) as well as imprisonment of more than: 100000 people. The report/ratio counted that, on a million exiled during this period, there was: 160000 exiled political.

In 1977, Pinochet entrusts the economy of the country to the theorists of the school of Chicago, the Chicago servant boys (followers of Milton Friedman). During five years, the growth reaches 8% per annum whereas the rate of analphabetisation regresses and that the life expectancy passes from 63,6 years in 1975 to 74,4 years in 1990 (period called the Chilean Miracle).

In the geopolitical field in 1978, Chile and the Argentine clash in the Conflit of the Beagle to take possession of some southern small islands. This conflict failed to cause a war between the two countries, but the Pape Jean-Paul II calmed the heats of the governors.

At the beginning of the military government, the Leigh general poses the problem which it is necessary to establish a new Constitution replacing the Constitution of 1925 which according to (according to Leigh) brought the institutional crisis. The Commission Ortúzar is charged to set up a new constitution, chaired by the lawyer Enrique Ortúzar and Jaime Guzmán. In 1978, Pinochet orders that this constitution project is given to the Council of State of Chile, which will write the constitution. To make approve by the people the constitution, Pinochet organizes a plebiscite which takes place the September 11th 1980. It did not have any opposition in this pseudo-democracy. Eduardo Frei Montalva recommends to vote Non, with this plebiscite because its confidence towards Pinochet was quickly degraded by seeing that it remained in place with the capacity. There no were electoral registers nor even of electoral courts. The plebiscite gives 67% for Yes, a result higher than in reality according to some dires. However there were many irregularities which were not heard, as for example the blank votes were taken into account like Oui. The soldiers remain with the capacity for eight years more in accordance with the Constitution.

The constitution of 1980 set up various rules and institutions which will be in place at the time of the return to the democracy. First of all, it there with the reduction in the capacity of the Congress and establishment of a Constitutional Court which will control all new private bill. There is also the foundation of the National Safety advice, chaired by the president of the Republic.

In this constitution, one can note a share relatively keynésienne because it is considered that the State must act in the economy, the social one and the culture.

As regards the purely political field, there is the replacement of the system of proportional by the system binominal at the time of the elections and the establishment of a second turn in the presidential elections when nobody reached the absolute majority. The duration of the presidential mandate is eight years (it will change thereafter at six then four years). Pinochet keeps the capacity for eight years more. After this period a candidate (who would be Pinochet) calls with new a eight years mandate, if the people refuse it still controls a year then one sets up democratic elections the following year.

The economic crisis which occurs in 1982 (year when the Inflation was of 500%) generates a series of protests of the population against the neoliberalism and the political regime. In 1985, the economy of the country returns to the green This period is called like the Second Miracle. It is named thus because of the Privatization S of the majority of the state enterprises and the fall of the public expenditure. This results in to see an increase in the poverty and the digging of the difference between richest and poorest.

In 1988, it asks for the prolongation of its mandate by Référendum but obtains only 44,01% of approval against 55,99% which require its departure and the end of the dictatorship. It organizes a transition then carefully guaranteeing a constitutional immunity to him.

Return to the democracy

After the defeat of Augusto Pinochet at the time of the plebiscite 1988, the constitution was amended to cause elections, to elect new senators, to decrease the role of the Safety advice Main road and to put as many civil members than soldiers (either four members each one). Many Chilean politicians regard this Safety advice as remainders of the authoritarian regime. All is made to reform the constitution.

In December 1989 takes place the first turn of the presidential elections which is the starting point of the democratic regime. The Christian democrat Patricio Aylwin, candidate of Concertación (gathering the Christian Democratic party, the socialist party, the Party for the Democracy, and the democratic social radical party), faces Hernán Büchi, candidate of the coalition Alianza por Chile (gathering the Independent democratic union and the national Restoration). In February 1991, the commission Truth and Reconciliation, establishes one year before by Aylwin, formless on the violations of the Human rights carried out during the military regime.

The March 11th 1990, following democratic elections, it yields its position of president of the republic to the Christian democrat Patricio Aylwin, elected with the head of a coalition - Concertación - including the heirs to the socialism of Allende. Pinochet remains still seven years chief of the armies.

Alywin, must position back the democracy, establish a new national policy, maintain the good health economic of the country (without blaming the neoliberalism founded under Pinochet), to reduce in an important way poverty. Lastly, the most important fact for the Chilean ones, the army must recognize the violations of the Human rights made during the dictatorship.

The March 11th 1994, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle becomes president of the Republic. He is elected thanks to the coalition of the Concertación . Its government which lasts six years, is characterized by the economic good health of Chile thanks to the opening of the Chilean market abroad (years 1990-1997 knew an annual growth of GDP of about 7%). However at the end of its mandate, a new economic crisis affects the country. In 1999, the GDP of Chile regresses even of 0,3% because of the consequences of the Asian crisis.

In October 1998, reprocessed and senator with life, Pinochet is stopped with London following a warrant for arrest of the Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, and put under house arrest. This problem with for consequence to revive the tensions between the differences political parties of the country.

After elections rather difficult, Ricardo Lagos becomes president in March 2000 (while being the third president of the Concertación and the first socialist president since Salvador Allende) in a relatively bad economic climate. Lagos becomes popular because it gives the economy to the green, sets up many reforms like the school free and obligatory up to 18 years, legalizes the divorce and the abortion in 2004. Moreover Lagos signs many treaties of free trade with the EU, the the United States inter alia.

Of return to Chile almost two years later (in March 2000), the Pinochet general is accommodated by a hundred thousands of his partisans whereas legal procedures are committed against him.

In 2004, the Court of Appeal of Santiago raises the constitutional immunity of Augusto Pinochet for her responsibilities in the Opération Condor, a plan of the South American dictatorships of the Années 1970 to eliminate their opponents. In June 2005, it is finally released by the Court of Appeal. The filed appeals by the victims' families are considered to be “inadmissible”. This release is definitively confirmed the September 15th 2005 by the Supreme court.

The January 15th 2006, Michelle Bachelet is elected with the second turn with 53,5% of the surveys. She takes the post of president of the Republic the March 11th 2006. She becomes thus the first woman in the history of Chile to becoming president. Its government is characterized by a parity man/woman.

It is in a business of tax evasion that the immunity of Pinochet is still raised by this same Court of Appeal of Santiago (this decision is on standby of validation by the Supreme court) as within the framework of the investigation into the Opération Colombo for which it would have covered the execution of 119 members of the Movement of the revolutionary left (MIR) Chilean in 1975. These liftings of immunity do not mean the inculpation of the general Pinochet bus of the medical examinations must still take place before its possible interrogation, with an aim of determining if its physical condition enables him to face a lawsuit. If necessary, it will remain to record its declaration and to examine the existence of evidence connecting it to the crimes or the offenses in order to consider its possible inculpation. December 10th 2006 with 14:15 (local time), the general Pinochet dies in 91 years of the continuations of one heart attack to the military hospital of Santiago of Chile, escaping thus definitively any lawsuit.

February 21st, 2007, 17 former heads of the Chilean junta are returned before the Court of Assizes of Paris which will judge them by defect for the disappearance of 4 French under the dictatorship (1973-90) at the time of the first lawsuit in the world of the Chilean dictatorship.

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