News of the South

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News of the South
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Chile

• Traditionally stable and semi-democratic
• Modern military non-political
• Copper and Nitrate gave higher standard of
  living
• Social problems
• Strong labor out of mainstream political power
• Bad healthcare
• Poor education
• Ignored by conservatives

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Arturo Alessandri

• President 1920 25
• Social reform
• Separation of Church State
• Open up voting
• Greater govt. supervision of economy
• Couldnt get consensus
• Congress in control of opposition

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Military as Pressure Group

• Reforms effect military
• Politics in military
• Congress did not raise salaries
• Sept 1924 sat in the balcony
• In 1 hour Alessandri reforms passed

• Reforms
• Minimum wage
• Recognize unions
• Health benefits
• Force Alessandri to resign
• Always in the wings until 1931
• New constitution 1925 (until 1973)

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1930s

• 1927-31, Carlos Ibanez military semi-dictator
• Radialism, Communists Socialists broken
• State unions
• Some nationalism
• Public works
• Depression forces him out

• Juan Montero 1 yr.
• 40 unemployment
• Military more radical
• Virtually no
• 1932 radical military coup
• 100 day Socialist Republic of Chile
• Called for nationalization
• Tax reform
• September conservative coup
• October Alessandri wins election serves til 1938

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Politics

• Alessandri got military back into barracks
• Purged political officers
• World economy revived
• Repressed radicalism

• Popular front
• Reformist coalition
• Reaction to native fascist movement
• Nazi groups attempted coup
• 1938 one of the 1st mid-sector parties to be
  elected

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1940s

• Industrialization creating jobs and middle sector
• Welfare system
• Created bureaucracy
• Social security, pensions for mid sector
• Left out rural
• Inflation
• Agriculture ignored
• 1941 refused to break with Germany not until 1943

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1950s

• Discover petroleum Govt. monopoly
• Carlos Ibañez president accused of being puppet
  of Perón
• Left coalition formed FRAP - Allende candidate
• Christian Democrats new Eduardo Frei
• Right won
• Jorge Alessandri son of Arturo

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Jorge Alessandri

• 1958 64
• Business approach
• Austerity
• Wage price controls
• 1960 earthquake
• Alliance for Progress showcase
• Had to have social program
• Some land reform
• Tax reform
• Primarily lack of success

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1964 Election

• Right discredited
• Allende runs on left
• Frei on center-left
• Frei gets lesser of 2 evil vote

• Christian Democrats
• Political reforms based on Christs teaching
• Prior reward in heaven
• Response to radicals
• Need to help poor
• Young people of the conservative parties
• Viable alternative to Marxism

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Eduardo Frei

• Elected 1964
• Chileanization
• Buy out 51 of mines
• Left not enough right too much
• 1970 3 major mines owned by govt.
• Land reform
• Housing
• Education
• Made people more politicized polarized
• Mixed success problems remained

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1970 Election

• 3 groups
• Right Jorge Alessandri 35
• Left Popular Unity Allende 38
• Christian Democrats Radomiro Tomic left side
  of party 28
• Plurality won

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Salvador Allende

• Congress verified election of 1970
• Doctor upper middle class
• Announced would remain a constitutional state
  with radical reforms
• Congress in hands of enemies
• Right and Christian Dems. always trying for
  2/3rds majority needed to impeach

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Allendes 3 years

• Problems with supporters MIR wanted more
  radical reform
• Nationalize copper mines talk of compensation
• US upset
• Nationalize telephones ITT
• Economic troubles price controls
• 12,000 wealthy left the country

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Allendes 3 years

• Political polarization
• Christian Democrats fear direction
• Radical actions
• Middle sector being affected by economic problems
• CIA efforts to destabilize
• ITT offers money to help

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US Intervention

• Destabilization
• The 40 committee
• 8 September, 1970
• Look at pros cons of military coup with US
  assistance
• Pro cons of organizing opposition
• CIA to truckers

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Sept. 11, 1973

• Lost control of both sides
• Polarization
• Military cracks down

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Augusto Pinochet
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Vocabulary
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History 230-M