HISTORY.
The Araueanians were the most important of the Indian tribes living in what is now Chile, and the history of the country before 1800 is mainly concerned with the continuous efforts of the Spanish to subjugate this fierce and intelli gent nation. The survivors of the pure native race who still maintain their virtual indepen dence are few; in general. the mixture of Arau canian blood, with that of the Spanish con querors has given to the Chilean race its re markable efficiency in The Incas of Peru. at the period of their greatest power (1450 15331, subdued a few of the northern branches of the Araucanian race, hut at the time of the Spanish conquest their dominion ryas not firmly established. As soon as the Incas in Peru hail been overwhelmed, Almagro gathered a force for the conquest of Chile. and in 1535 started south. He spent two years and a half in the country, but, encountering little success, with drew to Peru in I538. In 1540 Valdivia led a second expedition into the Araucanian terri tory. and began the real conquest of Chil . Ile founded santiago in 1541. Concepcior m 1550. and Valdivia in 1553, and thus secured, after much hard fighting, a permanent hold on the country.
For two hundred and fifty years the history of Chile is the record of slow expansion, through the development of mines and farms. and of al most constant wars with the natives. These were finally forced to sign a treaty in 1773, which, in their weakened condition, they con tinued to respect. The Governors of Chile were appointed for the most part by the Viceroys of Peru. and the post was considered the regular stepping-stone to the viceregal office. The news of Napoleon's invasion of Spain and the abdica tion of Ferdinand V11. aroused great unrest in all the Spanish-American colonies, and induced a number of leading Chileans to call an assem bly which forced the Governor to resign, and, September IS, 1810, organized a junta de qobicr no to govern the land so long as the French should hold Spain. This date is considered the anniversary of Chilean independence. There followed several years of intermittent fighting with the Spanish forces in Peru, varied by struggles between rival factions among the patriots. led by the Carrera brothers and by Don Bernardo O'Higgins. In 1814 this rivalry
enabled the Viceroy, °sari°, to reestablish his au thority in the south, and to maintain it for two and a half years. In the winter of 1816-17 Gen eral San Martin led ail army of Argentine gait (hos across the mountains, and by the decisive victory of Chacabnco, February 12. 1817, forced time Spaniards out of Chile. A year later, on the anniversary of the battle, O'Higgins formally declared the absolute independence of Chile. The patriot army had meanwhile followed the Span iards to Peru, and on the Maipu Plains, near Santiago, April 5, ISIS, another battle was fought which virtually ended the Spanish dom ination, although desultory lighting continued for a few years:. It was not until 1s44 that Spain formally recognized the loss of her prov inces..
O'Higgins ruled as dictator from ISIS to 1823. when he was induced to withdraw, and a constitution was adopted. This was revised in 1828. and again in 1833, when substantially the !.ame doeum•nt in force at present was adopt ed. it has, however, been amended frequently, the most important changes heing made in 1874.
This Constitution provides for a republican form of government, with a property qualification so high that the voters form practically an oli garchy. In IS43 the question of the Argentine boundary arose, and continued a menace to peaceful relations until 1885, \\lien a treaty was signed which gave Chile half of Tierra del Fuego and the shores of the Strait of :Magel lan. providing, however. for the neutrality of this Another boundary commission was then needed to determine the exact position of the line, which was to follow the watershed of the Andes. Disputes and rumors of war have continued to distract both countries to the present day. Spain, in 1864-65, forced both Peru and Chile into war by a series of petty squabbles over diplomatic titles and procedure, and there followed a year of active naval war fare. Hostilities dragged on until 1S69, when the United Statis Minister succeeded in putting an end to active operations. Spain, however, refused to acknowledge herself beaten until 1571. when a provisional treaty was signed at Washington, followed by a definitive peace in 1579.