Difference between revisions of "Chile"
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| − | '''Chile''' is a country in the Southern Cone of South America, which borders Argentina, | + | '''Chile''' is a country in the Southern Cone of South America, which borders Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. |
==History of Chile== | ==History of Chile== | ||
| − | Chile was originally inhabited by Native | + | Chile was originally inhabited by Native Americans, primarily of the Mapuche tribe.. During the Spanish conquest of South America, racial intermarriage produced the now-dominant "mestizo" ethnicity. Most Chileans are of mixed racial backgrounds. |
Chile gained its independence from Spain in 1810, under Simon Bolivar. | Chile gained its independence from Spain in 1810, under Simon Bolivar. | ||
Revision as of 21:07, March 13, 2007
Chile is a country in the Southern Cone of South America, which borders Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
History of Chile
Chile was originally inhabited by Native Americans, primarily of the Mapuche tribe.. During the Spanish conquest of South America, racial intermarriage produced the now-dominant "mestizo" ethnicity. Most Chileans are of mixed racial backgrounds.
Chile gained its independence from Spain in 1810, under Simon Bolivar.
From 1970 to 1973, Chile's leader was Salvador Allende, a democratically-elected populist. In 1973, General Augusto Pinochet Ugarto, better known as General Pinochet, gained power in a military coup, during which Allende committed suicide. The coup is alleged to have been supported by the CIA. Pinochet instituted free market reforms and opposed communism, but also participated in Operation Condor, a reprisal against political opponents during which thousands of Chileans disappeared. After Pinochet's ouster in 1988, Chile has attempted to try him for war crimes committed under his regime, but trails were postponed due to his age. Pinochet died in 2006, due to heart failure.
Chile's current president, Michelle Bachellet, is the first woman president of the country. She is also a member of the Chilean Socialist party.
