The history of Chile can be traced back to the Chinchorro people in 5000 to 3000 BC. Fast forward to the sixteenth century, many different tribes were settling in present day Chile. This included the Diaguita, the Picunche, the Mapuche, the Pehuenche, and the Chono. However, Topa Inca Yupanqui of the Inca Empire conquered the land of Peru all the way down to central modern Chile. In 1536, Diego de Almagro led a Spanish expedition over the Andes into Chile, but ultimately failed to set up camp. Years later, another conquest led by Pedro de Aldivia successfully took control and established the city Santiago in 1541. Later on, the cities of La Serena, Concepción, and Valdivia were created. The southern part was free of Spanish control until the 1800s during the War of Arauco. Chile declared its independence from Spanish rule in 1810, but only obtained real independence in 1818. From 1818 all the way to 1925, the country was ruled by one single supreme dictator. After around a century, the system was replaced by a presidential republic but with limited voting rights. In 1861, a constitution was declared that equalized the voting powers and slightly expanded the amount of voters permitted. After a civil war, Chile became a parliamentary republic in 1891. But after lots of conflict in the country, the military took control in 1924. General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo ruled the country from 1927 to 1931 but was forced to flee after a general strike. The country was back to a democracy. Then from 1973 to 1990, the military, led by General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, took control once again. Pinochet undid the constitution, destroyed the congress, and banned all political parties. Activists who were fighting for freedom and rights were arrested, tortured, and banished from the country. Pinochet never faced any major challengers due to all of them being sent out of the country. He was always criticized for his cruel actions and lost an election to Patricio Aylwin Azocar in 1989, resulting in a return to democracy. 1997 was Pinochet’s end when he became a senator for life.

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Demographics

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In the present day, Chile is made heavily of white and non-indigenous people. However, the country is actually home to many, small Indigenous tribes with the biggest being the Mapuche people. The official language is, of course, Spanish due to the Spanish colonization. The great country of Chile has a history full of political battles and different systems fighting for control.