History UsefulNotes / Chile

** President of the Senate: Juan Antonio Coloma
** President of the Chamber of Deputies: Vlado Mirosevic

* '''Area:''' 756,096.3 km
(291,930.4 sq mi) (37th)

* '''Capital and largest city:''' Santiago

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Francisco_(television_host) Don Francisco]], known for hosting [[http://www.univision.com/content/channel.jhtml?chid=6&schid=6761 Sabado Gigante]] and "Don Francisco Presenta", was born in Talca, Chile. The show started on Canal 13 in 1962. Two decades later, the program moved to Miami, Florida where Univision (formerly SIN) began producing it and started to be recorded by Univision in Miami in 1986. He also hosts a famous Telethon in Chile, which is done almost once per year since 1978, to obtain funds for The Telethon Foundation, which administrates several institutions to aid children with developmental disabilities. It's seen as days of National Union, and the Criminal Rate of those days equals Christmas and New Year's Eve. If you are Latin American and have seen a Telethon in your country, is very probable that Telethon [[FollowTheLeader is based on the Chilean one]].

Among the many immigrants that arrived to Chile, the Spanish make up the majority, followed in number by the French, Germans, Celts, Syrians and Palestinians, the last group escaping from the Arab-Israeli War. Other smaller communities exist, like Koreans, Afro-Chileans, Cantonese, Indians and Polynesians from Rapa Nui.

In 1973, the military under General UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet (supported by the [[MoralMyopia United States]]) performed a coup d'etat against the Socialist government of Salvador Allende. Pinochet's [[BananaRepublic dictatorship]] lasted until 1989 when a national plebiscite was held to determine whether or not the military government should remain in power. If you happen to be among Chileans, [[BrokenBase it is usually not wise to bring up the topic]]. '''Seriously.''' It may sound weird but Pinochet still has many [[BlackShirt supporters]], so be careful what you say.
With the victory of the Concertación (a center-left coalition) in 1989, Chile entered a new era of economic growth and social changes, with many hoping for a better future. But with many of the human rights violators being pardoned, the neglectfulness of the new democratic state towards the poorer classes, and an increase of corruption among government officials, many Chileans see today a bleak future for their country.

Bernardo O'Higgins led the country until he was forced to abdicate in 1823. Then came 5 years of what is currently called "Ensayos Constitucionales" ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Constitutional Attempts/Try-outs]]), which includes governments that lasted six, five, and even three days. After that, and guided by Diego Portales Palazuelos, Chile's governance stabilized. Between 1879-1883, it fought and defeated Peru and Bolivia in the UsefulNotes/WarOfThePacific, conquering the Litoral from UsefulNotes/{{Bolivia}} and landlocking that country (to Bolivia's continuing dismay/fury). This period of (relative) stability would last until the civil war of 1891, which gave power to the Parliament instead, until the arrival of Arturo Alessandri -- the following governments would go for the presidential route, but in ''many'' different ways...

When the Spaniards came to UsefulNotes/TheAmericas in the 15th century, Chile was the last place they visited, because to reach it, they needed to cross the Atacama Desert, [[DeathWorld which is fifty times drier than the Death Valley]], and for a long time, Chile was known as a [[CrapsackWorld Spaniard's grave]]. When they arrived, a war lasting over 300 years began between the Spaniards and the natives, particularly the Mapuche tribes. During this period, Chile became a Spanish colony, obtaining independence in 1818 after a war of independence against the royalists led by people like Bernardo O' Higgins, [[MasterOfDisguise Manuel]] [[GuileHero Rodriguez]] and [[ColonelBadass Jose Miguel]] Carrera. [[BrokenBase Do NOT ask who was the best of them.]]

When the Spaniards came to America in the 15th century, Chile was the last place they visited, because to reach it, they needed to cross the Atacama Desert, [[DeathWorld which is fifty times drier than the Death Valley]], and for a long time, Chile was known as a [[CrapsackWorld Spaniard's grave]]. When they arrived, a war lasting over 300 years began between the Spaniards and the natives, particularly the Mapuche tribes. During this period, Chile became a Spanish colony, obtaining independence in 1818 after a war of independence against the royalists led by people like Bernardo O' Higgins, [[MasterOfDisguise Manuel]] [[GuileHero Rodriguez]] and [[ColonelBadass Jose Miguel]] Carrera. [[BrokenBase Do NOT ask who was the best of them.]]

Before the Spanish arrival, Chile was part of the Qullasuyu, the southern part of the Inca Empire. The central part corresponds to Chili and Atakama, native states allied with the Incaic administration, while the southern parts were controlled by the Mapuche tribes, who are known for successfully repelling both Inca and Spanish invaders. The southernmost area, namely the Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, was populated by the Patagones or Tehuelches, a group of different tribes that were mistaken for giants by the Europeans.

Statistically, Chile has one of the best life qualities and economic developments in UsefulNotes/LatinAmerica[[note]]While It's not very well known, Chile was in fact the most affected country during the TheGreatDepression, in the WHOLE world.[[/note]], but it also has a big problem with economic inequality and poverty. Chile stretches from the Atacama desert to Patagonia, stopping just before UsefulNotes/{{Antarctica}} (although they do have a claim over a portion of Antarctica, to the point they have one of the few civilian settlements there, Villa las Estrellas), and also has two islands in the Pacific, the Juan Fernandez Island and [[LandmarkOfLore Easter Island]] or UsefulNotes/RapaNui, which is well known for the big rock heads called Moai that surround the island. Ironically not too many people outside of Chile know the island is part of the country.

Statistically, it has one of the best life qualities and economic developments in UsefulNotes/LatinAmerica[[note]]While It's not very well known, Chile was in fact the most affected country during the TheGreatDepression, in the WHOLE world.[[/note]], but also has a big problem with economic inequality and poverty. Chile stretches from the Atacama desert to the Patagonia stopping just before Antarctica (although they do have a claim over a portion of Antarctica, to the point they have one of the few civilian settlements there, Villa las Estrellas), and also has two islands in the Pacific, the Juan Fernandez Island and [[LandmarkOfLore Easter Island]] or UsefulNotes/RapaNui, which is well known for the big rock heads called Moai that surround the island. Ironically not too many people outside of Chile know the island is part of the country.

Statistically, it has one of the best life qualities and economic developments in UsefulNotes/LatinAmerica[[note]]While It's not very well known, Chile was in fact the most affected country during the Great Depression, in the WHOLE world.[[/note]], but also has a big problem with economic inequality and poverty. Chile stretches from the Atacama desert to the Patagonia stopping just before Antarctica (although they do have a claim over a portion of Antarctica, to the point they have one of the few civilian settlements there, Villa las Estrellas), and also has two islands in the Pacific, the Juan Fernandez Island and [[LandmarkOfLore Easter Island]] or UsefulNotes/RapaNui, which is well known for the big rock heads called Moai that surround the island. Ironically not too many people outside of Chile know the island is part of the country.

Statistically, it has one of the best life qualities and economic developments in Latin America[[note]]While It's not very well known, Chile was in fact the most affected country during the Great Depression, in the WHOLE world.[[/note]], but also has a big problem with economic inequality and poverty. Chile stretches from the Atacama desert to the Patagonia stopping just before Antarctica (although they do have a claim over a portion of Antarctica, to the point they have one of the few civilian settlements there, Villa las Estrellas), and also has two islands in the Pacific, the Juan Fernandez Island and [[LandmarkOfLore Easter Island]] or UsefulNotes/RapaNui, which is well known for the big rock heads called Moai that surround the island. Ironically not too many people outside of Chile know the island is part of the country.

The '''Republic of Chile''' (Spanish: ''República de Chile'') is a very long and thin country in UsefulNotes/SouthAmerica. Despite what some people think, Chile is not named after the Chili pepper, nor vice versa. Local tradition says the name "Chile" comes from the Aymara word "End of the World" or from the Quechua word "Cold place", both being very suitable definitions for the former Inca province.

The '''Republic of Chile''' (Spanish: ''República de Chile'') is a very long and thin country in South America. Despite what some people think, Chile is not named after the Chili pepper, nor vice versa. Local tradition says the name "Chile" comes from the Aymara word "End of the World" or from the Quechua word "Cold place", both being very suitable definitions for the former Inca province.

** President of the Senate: Álvaro Elizalde
** President of the Chamber of Deputies: Raul Soto

Chile, like the rest of Latin America, is a multiethnic country, but unlike other countries, the government doesn't actually register race among its citizens. This is in part due to the ruling elite being composed of white people, who were focused on bringing European immigrants to replace or mix with the native population, in a process known as ''Blanqueamiento''. Another reason has to do with the loss of cultural identity among the native Picunches, who eventually embraced the new independentist movement and became today's Chileans. This created a culturally homogenous population that followed Hispanic traditions regardless of race. The only exceptions were the Reche tribes in the south of Bio Bio who became the Mapuche nation, a number of Atacameño people that rejected the new Chilean state and kept practicing some of their traditions, and the Tehuelche with some huilliche and lafkenche tribes who were too far away to actually be incorporated to the new Chilean state.

Notable Chileans are Creator/GabrielaMistral and Creator/PabloNeruda, who were awarded the UsefulNotes/NobelPrizeInLiterature in 1945 and 1971, respectively. Gabriela Mistral received also the National Literature Prize in 1951. Creator/RobertoBolano and Creator/IsabelAllende are also famous writers worldwide. In other arts, Víctor Jara is one of Chile's most famous musicians, known for his social activism and, unfortunately, for [[DeadArtistsAreBetter being tortured for four days and murdered by Pinochet's junta]] after the 1973 coup.[[note]]The stadium where he and other prisoners were killed is now named the Víctor Jara Stadium.[[/note]]

With the victory of the Social Democrats in 1989, Chile entered a new era of economic growth and social changes, with many hoping for a better future. But with many of the human rights violators being pardoned, the neglectfulness of the new democratic state towards the poorer classes, and an increase of corruption among government officials, many Chileans see today a bleak future for their country.