19th Century Chilean Presidents: A Historical Overview
José Joaquín Pérez (1861-1871)
Features
Transition period, ruled with the support of the Conservative Liberal Merger. He was re-elected.
Events
War against Spain (1865-1866)
Spain, after the loss of most of its American colonies, began a process of decay. Unsuccessful imperialist attempts were guided to the recovery of their former domains through actions such as the annexation of Santo Domingo (1860) and the joint invasion with France in Mexico (1860). In 1862, Spain sent a fleet to Peru with the objective of colonial debt collection. Refusing to pay in 1864, Spain occupied Chicha Island, an area with deposits of guano, a key product of the Peruvian economy. Faced with the threat, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Guatemala met in a conference in Lima (1865) where they agreed to take action together. Chile was the most emphatic in its decision and decided to block the Chilean coast, limiting the access of Spanish ships. Spain demanded a public apology for supporting Peru, and Chile responded by declaring war. Chile organized a defensive alliance with the participation of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. After a couple of naval battles (Battle of Abtao, 1866) near Chiloé, the Spanish squad decided to withdraw, but before leaving, bombed Valparaiso, destroying its facilities and Chilean boats. The Spanish fleet was finally contained in Callao.
Works
- Enactment of the law on freedom of worship, allowing non-Catholics to worship in private buildings and establish and support private schools for the teaching of their religions.
- Signing of the first treaty limits with Bolivia (1866), establishing the boundary between the two countries on parallel 24°, leaving the portion between the parallels 23° and 25° as a shared economic area where taxes from the exploitation of guano and minerals would be shared equally.
- Prohibition of immediate re-election of the President (1871).
Federico Errázuriz Zañartu (1871-1876)
Features
Ruled with the support of the Conservative Liberal Merger until its break in 1875. His government faced an economic crisis that began in the late 1860s.
Events
Conflicts with the Catholic Church about the freedom of education.
Works
- Electoral Law, enactment of the Penal Code and the Mining Code (1874).
- Signing of the second boundary treaty with Bolivia (1874), holding the border at parallel 24° in Chile. Chile gave up its rights over the territories situated north of that parallel. Bolivia undertook not to raise taxes on nitrate export of Chilean companies located between parallels 23° and 24° for a period of 25 years.
Aníbal Pinto Garmendia (1876-1881)
Features
First government of the Liberal Alliance. During his tenure, nitrate production in Antofagasta and Tarapacá intensified.
Events
- Start of the Pacific War (1879): Bolivia violated the Treaty of 1874 by raising the tax on exported nitrate.
- Conflicts with the Church (1879) regarding the candidacy of Francisco de Paula Taforó to the Archbishopric of Santiago.
Works
- Establishment of the first inconvertible currency (1878): A ban on exchanging paper money for its equivalent in cash, to avoid the reduction of precious metal reserves in times of crisis.
- Negotiation of boundaries with Argentina (1880).
Domingo Santa María González (1881-1886)
Features
Ruled with the support of the Liberal Alliance. His mandate coincided with the development of the Pacific War.
Events
- Final Incorporation of Araucanía (1883): A process of spontaneous colonization encouraged by the state and materialized in the sale of indigenous lands, initially in the province of Arauco.
- Approval of the secular laws (1883-1884): Cemetery, marriage, and civil registry laws intended to diminish the Church’s influence.
- The Treaty of Ancón with Peru (1883) and Truce Pact with Bolivia (1884).
José Manuel Balmaceda Fernández (1886-1891)
Features
Elected with the support of the Liberal Alliance. Growing tension between the executive and Congress culminated in a civil war (1891).
Events
Civil War (1891)
Congress harassed Balmaceda’s administration, forcing him to change his ministry. In 1890, Balmaceda refused another change, and Congress responded by not approving the budget law for 1891. Since the state could not function without a law authorizing its expenses and investments, Balmaceda decreed that the 1890 law would apply in 1891, which was unconstitutional. The President was dismissed. Consequences: The sense of national unity was broken, power fell into the hands of a plutocratic oligarchy, and expansion plans were disrupted.
Works
- Creation of the provinces of Malleco and Cautín (1887).
- Takeover of Easter Island (1888).
- Creation of the Ministry of Public Works (1888).
- Pedagogical Institute Foundation (1889).
- Construction of the viaduct over the Malleco River (1890).