The Chilean coup d'état of September 1973

Summary

This video explores the dramatic events of the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, when Salvador Allende, the first democratically elected Marxist leader in Latin America, was overthrown by a military junta after just three years in power. The coup, supported by the United States, followed rising political tensions and economic strife. Despite efforts to resist, Allende's government fell, leading to his death and the rise of Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship. The coup marked the end of Chile’s streak of democratic rule and ushered in a period of brutal repression and human rights violations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 1973 Chilean coup d'état overthrew President Salvador Allende, the first democratically elected Marxist leader in Latin America.
• 😀 Allende's socialist policies, including nationalizing industries and collectivization, led to increased political tension with Chile’s right-wing Congress and the United States.
• 😀 The United States, under President Richard Nixon, conducted economic warfare against Allende’s government, contributing to the political unrest in Chile.
• 😀 Chile had been a beacon of democracy in South America before the coup, contrasting with the region's military juntas and dictatorships.
• 😀 Allende won the presidency in 1970 in a close three-way race and was elected by Congress after no candidate secured a majority.
• 😀 By September 11, 1973, the Chilean military, backed by the U.S. CIA, staged a coup to oust Allende from power.
• 😀 Allende initially believed that only a faction of the Navy was involved in the coup, but by 8:30 am, it became clear that the entire military had turned against him.
• 😀 Despite the military's full control over Chile by 9:00 am, Allende refused to resign and remained at the presidential palace, La Moneda.
• 😀 Allende gave a farewell speech to the nation, affirming his refusal to step down under threat and declaring the coup a betrayal of Chilean democracy.
• 😀 After the military bombed La Moneda and assaulted the palace, Allende died, with initial reports suggesting he was killed in combat, later confirmed as a suicide.
• 😀 In the aftermath, the military junta, led by Augusto Pinochet, killed thousands of leftists, imprisoned tens of thousands, and established a brutal dictatorship with support from the United States.

Q & A

Who was the first democratically elected Marxist leader in Latin America?

Salvador Allende was the first democratically elected Marxist leader in Latin America, serving as the president of Chile.

What caused the 1973 Chilean coup d'état?

The 1973 Chilean coup d'état was caused by a combination of social unrest, political tensions between President Allende and the Chilean Congress, economic warfare orchestrated by the U.S. government, and the military's decision to overthrow Allende.

What role did the U.S. play in the Chilean coup of 1973?

The U.S., under President Richard Nixon, supported efforts to destabilize Allende's government through economic warfare and covert actions, which eventually contributed to the military coup.

How long had Chile been a beacon of democracy before the coup?

Chile had maintained a streak of democratic governments since 1932, making it a beacon of democracy in South America at the time, especially in contrast to other countries with military juntas.

What was Allende's approach to the Chilean economy?

Allende's policies included nationalization of key industries and the collectivization of agricultural production, aiming to implement a socialist economy in Chile.

What was the reaction of Chile's Congress to Allende's presidency?

The Chilean Congress, particularly the right-wing and Christian Democrat factions, increasingly opposed Allende's policies, culminating in a declaration of a 'constitutional breakdown' and calls for his removal.

How did the military begin the coup against Allende?

On 11 September 1973, the Chilean military, supported by the Navy and Air Force, initiated the coup by capturing key locations, including the city of Valparaíso, and shutting down radio and television stations.

What happened at the presidential palace, La Moneda, during the coup?

At La Moneda, Allende resisted the coup by staying in the palace, despite the military's threats to bomb it. Eventually, the military bombed the palace and overwhelmed its defenders, leading to Allende's death.

How did Allende die during the coup?

Reports initially stated that Allende died while fighting the troops, but later accounts revealed that he committed suicide inside the presidential palace as the military closed in.

What was the aftermath of the coup in terms of political repression?

Following the coup, the military junta dissolved Congress, outlawed political parties, and repressed leftist opposition. Thousands of Chileans were killed or forced into hiding, with 40,000 people imprisoned in the National Stadium, and political activity was suspended.

What role did Augusto Pinochet play in the coup and what happened to him afterward?

Augusto Pinochet played a key role in the coup as the General of the Army. He quickly rose to power, becoming the supreme leader of Chile by late 1974 after the coup and consolidating the military dictatorship.