The history of Chile is very rich. Three main tribes, the Quechua, the Araucanian and the Inca tribes ascertained Chile when the first Spanish settlers arrived in the sixteenth century. From 100, 000 population in the mid-seventeenth century, the population rose to one million by 1830.
By the mid-seventeenth century, the population of the Spanish settlements and their surroundings numbered approximately 100,000. This population grew to about 500,000 by mid-eighteenth century and to one million by 1830. Those with European blood were concentrated in central Chile, between Santiago and Concepcion; few settled in the northern and southern regions. This pattern of dispersion began to change only in the second half of the nineteenth century, with the rapid growth of mining activities and the immigration of non-Iberaian Europeans.
The northern and central Chile was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru under Spanish colonial rule. The south continued under the ascendancy of the Araucanians almost until the nineteenth century. In 1810 independence was first announced. During that time Central Chile was majorly commanded by a small, upper class of Creoles, most of whom possessed large estates. A period of internal imbalance and discord accompanied, which ensued in the refurbishment of Spanish rule in 1814. Chileans won independence from the shackles of the Spanish rule in 1888 under Jose de San Martin and Bernardo O'Higgins and O'Higgins became Chile's first president.
Between 1879-1883, Chile defeated Bolivia and Peru in a war for the control of the Atacama Desert and its rich mineral deposits. Bolivia lost its outlet to the open sea and Peru the Tarapaca district.
In 1891 a multiparty, parliamentary government came into existence. After a brusk military rule from 1924-1925, the restoration of the democratically elected president Arturo Alessandri, a new and an additional liberal, constitution came in being in1925. Left-wing parties and the communist acquired much strength from 1930s onward and diddled a crucial role in elections of several presidents. However, the right-wing parties remained in de facto control. Salvador Allende, of the left-wing party won the presidential elections in 1970. Allende was removed and died in a military coup in September 1973. This followed the 16 years of military dictatorship by General Augusto Pinochet. Democracy was finally reestablished in 1990 with the assumption of the presidency by Patricio Alwin Azocar, following free elections.
We at travel.mapsofworld.com inform you about the history of Chile.
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