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Abstract:
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Though Chile began to take significant steps towards its independence in 1810, it did not break all ties with Spain until 1824 and did not establish its own constitution until 1828. Napoleon Bonaparte overran Spain in 1808 at the same time as the Chilean Governor Luis Muñoz de Guzmán died, creating a crisis of leadership. The Chilean aristocracy established a Junta on September 18th, 1810 that continued to declare loyalty to Ferdinand VII and avoided declaring independence from Spain. The Junta failed to maintain control, though, and conflict between two Chilean armies (one led by José Miguel Carrera and the other by Bernardo O'Higgins) allowed the Peruvian viceroy, José Fernando Abascal, to successfully attack Chile and reestablish Spanish rule. Exiled to Argentina, O'Higgins joined forces with José de San Martín, crossing the Andes into Chile with him in 1817. By 1818, Martín had reclaimed control of Chile and O'Higgins became its supreme director. O'Higgins then turned his attention to driving the Spanish out of Peru to protect against future invasion. In 1824, with the help of Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolívar, Chilean forces were able to achieve liberation. O'Higgins was unable to enjoy this victory, however, as his liberal reforms had met with opposition and he had been forced to resign in 1822. A series of prime directors followed, the most notable of which, Francisco Antonio Pinto, oversaw the adoption of the Chilean constitution in 1828. |