Chile Paper

Before the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while central and southern Chile was under the rule of Mapuches (Araucian Indians). In the sixteenth century is when there was the coming of the Spanish. Chile fought for and declared it's independence in 1810 but their victory over Spanish was not obtained until 1818. During the years of 1879-1883 Chile was at war. This war was called the War of the Pacific. In this war Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia which won them its present regions.

In 1970, Salvador Allende Gossens was voted president. He became the first Marxist to be elected president by popular vote in Latin America. In an attempt to turn Chile into a socialist state, nationalize many private companies, institute programs of land reform and in foreign affairs, Allende sought closer ties with Communist countries. The government was only three years old when Salvador Allende was overthrown and died in 1973 because of a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, who then ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Allende's death also led to the execution, detention, and expulsion from Chile of thousands of people.

Now, sound economic policies have contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government, Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles suitable to its status as a stable, democratic nation.

As for the people of Chile, now, the majority of Chile's population is mestizo (mix between Spanish settlers and Indigenous people). Many Chieans are also of Germans, Italians, Irish, British, or Yugoslav ancestry. Three small indigenous groups are still distinguishable, which are the Araucanians of central Chile (the largest group), the Changos of northern Chile, and the Fuegians of Tierra del Fuego. Almost ninety percent of the people are at least nominally Roman Catholic. I think this is because of when the Spanish came over, the practice of Catholicism was brought with them. Spanish is the country's official language.

Now as for Chile's economy, its based on the export of minerals, copper, and agriculture. The Vale of Chile is the country's primary agricultural area; its vineyards are the basis of Chile's wine industry. The chief crops are grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, and beans. Sheep raising is the chief pastoral occupation,which provides wool and meat for domestic use and for export. Fishing and lumbering are also important economic activities. Chile's industries largely process its raw materials and manufacture various consumer goods. The major products are copper and other minerals, processed food, fish meal, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transportation equipment, and textiles.

On the other hand, two of Chile's major economic problems, is the dependence of the economy on copper prices and the production of an adequate food supply. Chile's main imports are petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, and natural gas. The main trading partners for Chile are the United States, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Korea. Here is a chart of Chile's export commodities along with other important facts:

• GDP- Per Capita: $14,400 (2007 est.)
• Infant Mortality Rate: total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
• Life expectancy: total population: 77.15 years
  male: 73.88 years
  female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)
• Literacy Rate: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95.7%
  male: 95.8%
  female: 95.6% (2002 census)
• Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
• Population below poverty line: 18.2% (2005)
• Export commodities: copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
• External debt: $49.18 billion (30 June 2007)

Well as for Chile now a days, in 2005, the constitution was amended to reduce the national influence of the military and declared civilian control over it, getting rid of the marks of Pinochet's dictatorship that had been preserved in the document. Michelle Bachelet, a Socialist and a defense minister under Lagos, was elected president in Jan., 2006. She was the first woman to be elected president of Chile. Bachelet, won more than 53% of the vote, defeating conservative business entrepreneur Sebastián Piñera. The center-left coalition also won majorities in both houses of the Chilean congress. In June, 2006, Chile saw massive protests over secondary school funding, some of which resulted in clashes with the police.