24 CultureShock! Chile
a move which led to war in February 1879. Chile, home of
the best navy in the Pacific, ultimately defeated Peru and
Bolivia in 1883 and took possession of Arica, Tacna and
Antofagasta. Tacna was returned to Peru ten years later. To
this day Bolivia and Chile have a complicated relationship.
Bolivia continuously calls for the return of land to provide
them with access to the Pacific Ocean.Civil War
In 1886, the liberal president José Manuel Balmaceda
made attempts to increase government involvement in
the economy and started a number of public works. The
demand for higher taxes, however, was staunchly opposed
by Congress, which represented the interests of the oligarchy.
Political instability ensued. The mining region in the north
became a rebel stronghold led by mine owners unwilling
to pay higher nitrate taxes. Finally, with the backing of the
navy, the rebels met Balmaceda’s army at Concón and La
Placilla in 1891 and civil war erupted. It was the bloodiest
period in Chilean history, with over 10,000 victims in only
eight months of fighting. Balmaceda’s forces were defeated.
He sought refuge in the Argentine embassy where he later
committed suicide.Populism
Despite the power of the oligarchy, workers and the newly
emerging middle class were beginning to be able to wield
some influence. In 1920, Chile’s first populist president,
Arturo Alessandri, was elected. He met with strong opposition
from Congress and in 1925, when the two branches of
government had reached an impasse, the military intervened
and installed Carlos Ibáñez as president.
Chileans were shocked by the military intervention.
Although the country’s former governments had been less
than fully democratic, Chile had not been subject to recurrent
military coups as had other Latin American countries. When
the worldwide depression hit in 1929, Chile experienced a
severe economic crisis and the military president was forced
to step down in disgrace.