Editing Politics of Chile (section)

==History==

The [[Autocracy|autocratic]] and [[Conservative Republic|conservative republic]] (1831–1861) was replaced by the [[Liberal Republic|liberal republic]] (1861–1891), during which some political conquests were made, such as [[proportional representation]] (1871) and the abolition of the condition of ownership to have the right to vote (1885).

===Parliamentary Republic===

When the era of the parliamentary republic began in 1891, the struggle between liberals (pipiolos) and conservatives (pelucones) had already evolved due to the emergence of a multi-party system. In the 1880s, the Liberals split into two factions: the moderates, who did not want to impose secularism too quickly and were willing to compromise with the Conservatives, and the radical Liberals, who joined the [[Radical Party of Chile|Radical Party]] founded in 1863 or the new Democratic Party with more progressive, if not socialist, ideas.

European and particularly British companies having appropriated a large part of the country's economy ([[Niter|saltpeter]], bank, railroad, trade), President [[José Balmaceda]] (1886–1891), leader of [[Centre-left politics|moderate liberals]], decided to react by directing his policy in two directions: the nationalization of saltpeter mines and the intervention of the State in economic matters. Already facing the conservative aristocracy, he alienated the bankers. He was dismissed by a vote of [[National Congress of Chile|Parliament]] and pressure from part of the army. He committed [[suicide]] by firearm at the end of the civil war that his supporters lost.

===Workers' struggles and social reforms===
A new parliamentary regime emerged from the civil war; it was the government of Fronda aristocrática. From 1906 onwards, the Radical Party demanded social reforms and the establishment of a democratic regime. That same year, the leader of the Federation of Workers, [[Luis Emilio Recabarren]], was elected to the House but his election was canceled by the House. In 1912 he founded the [[Socialist Workers' Party (Chile)|Socialist Workers Party]].

Despite the country's good economic performance, life remains particularly hard for a large part of the population (12 or 14-hour working days for workers, very low wages, illiteracy of more than 50% in the years 1900–1910, etc.). Trade unionism was organized and fought; strikes and workers' demonstrations multiplied, sometimes very harshly repressed: general strike in Santiago (1905), railroads and mines in Antofagasta (1906), a demonstration in Iquique (1907). From 1911 to 1920, there were 293 strikes. Some repressions kill hundreds of people. The workers' movement was organized in the 1910s with the creation of the Chilean Regional Workers' Federation in 1913 and the [[Industrial Workers of the World (Chile)|Chilean branch of the Industrial Workers of the World]] in 1919.

In 1920, the economic crisis worsened the standard of living of the middle classes, which were politically closer to the working classes. This new situation led to the election of [[Arturo Alessandri Palma]]. During his first term in office, he pursued a progressive policy: labor law, the establishment of the tax on property income, the establishment of the Central Bank, creation of social security funds, etc. However, it must constantly deal with the Senate, always under Conservative control, which systematically tries to block its reforms. Shortly before his withdrawal from power, he drew up a new Constitution that was considered to be the advent of true democracy in Chile. This Constitution enshrines the separation of Church and State and religious freedom, declares compulsory primary education, restores presidentialism by electing the president by universal suffrage, and above all proclaims that property must be regulated in such a way as to ensure its social function.<ref>Latin America in the 20th century: 1889-1929, 1991, p. 181-186</ref>