Allende and Pinochet in Chile | The 20th century | World history | Khan Academy
TLDRThe video script delves into a contentious period in Chilean history, marked by the 1970 election of Marxist Salvador Allende and subsequent U.S. intervention. It emphasizes the need for skepticism and personal research, recounting the U.S.'s 'Track One' strategy to prevent Allende's presidency and the tragic assassination of pro-democracy General Schneider. The narrative explores the ambiguous role of the CIA and the Nixon administration, leading to Allende's overthrow and the rise of Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship. Pinochet's regime, despite its economic success, was notorious for human rights abuses, including mass killings and disappearances. The video invites viewers to critically examine the complex interplay of politics, ideology, and the consequences of foreign policy on a nation's fate.
Takeaways
- 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of skepticism when consuming historical narratives, encouraging viewers to conduct their own research.
- 🗳️ In 1970, Salvador Allende, a known Marxist, won the Chilean presidential election with a plurality but not a majority of votes.
- 🌎 The U.S., under President Nixon and Secretary of State Kissinger, was concerned about a Marxist leader in Chile during the Cold War and sought to influence the outcome.
- 🇨🇱 The Chilean Congress, following standard procedure, was expected to elect Allende president since he had the most votes, which worried the Nixon administration.
- 💣 A plot to kidnap and depose General Rene Schneider, who was a constitutionalist and opposed to a military coup, was orchestrated by anti-Allende forces, leading to his assassination.
- 🕵️♂️ The involvement of the U.S. and the CIA in the kidnapping plot and Schneider's assassination is unclear, with some evidence suggesting they may have provided initial support.
- 📉 Allende's economic policies, including price-fixing and raising salaries without adjusting prices, led to economic difficulties and decreased his popularity.
- 👎 The U.S. was accused of using its economic power to undermine Allende's regime, while they claimed they were supporting a free press and democracy.
- ✋ In 1973, after three years of unrest and economic struggles, Allende was deposed in a military coup, with his death being a subject of controversy.
- 🤝 Augusto Pinochet seized power after the coup, establishing a military junta and ruling Chile as a dictator until 1990.
- 💰 Despite his tyrannical rule, Chile's economy prospered under Pinochet, with some attributing this to his economic policies and others to U.S. support.
Q & A
What was the context of the Chilean presidential election in 1970?
-The Chilean presidential election in 1970 was during the Cold War, with Salvador Allende, a known Marxist, winning a plurality of the votes. The U.S., under President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, was concerned about the rise of a Marxist leader in Latin America.
What does 'plurality' mean in the context of an election?
-A plurality in an election means that a candidate has received more votes than any other candidate, but not necessarily a majority of all votes cast.
Why were Nixon and Kissinger concerned about Salvador Allende's potential presidency?
-Nixon and Kissinger were concerned because Allende was a Marxist sympathetic to the Soviets and Cuba, and they feared the spread of communism in Latin America during the Cold War.
What was the role of General Rene Schneider in the Chilean military?
-General Rene Schneider was the commander in chief of the Chilean military. He was a constitutionalist who believed that the military should not interfere with politics and should only defend Chile.
What was the significance of General Schneider's assassination?
-Schneider's assassination removed a key obstacle to a potential military coup against Allende. It also increased political unrest and pressure on Congress, which may have influenced their decision to confirm Allende as president despite the lack of a majority vote.
What was the U.S.'s involvement in the events leading to Schneider's assassination?
-The U.S., particularly the CIA, had been in contact with anti-Allende military figures like Roberto Viaux, who was involved in the plot against Schneider. However, it's unclear how much direct support they provided to the plot, with some evidence suggesting initial support followed by a pullback.
What economic policies did Salvador Allende implement, and what were their outcomes?
-Allende implemented Marxist ideologies, including price-fixing and raising salaries while keeping prices fixed, which led to economic issues such as shortages. His economic policies were not popular and contributed to his decreasing support.
What happened to Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973?
-Salvador Allende was deposed by the military on September 11, 1973. The circumstances of his death are disputed; it is officially stated as a suicide, but some believe he was assassinated.
Who came to power after Salvador Allende's deposition, and what form of government did he establish?
-General Augusto Pinochet came to power after Allende's deposition and established a military junta, effectively a military dictatorship, ruling Chile without democratic elections.
What was the U.S.'s stance towards Augusto Pinochet's regime?
-The U.S. supported Pinochet's regime, viewing him as an ally against communism. Despite his tyrannical rule, the U.S. aimed to ensure the economic success of Chile under Pinochet.
How did Pinochet's economic policies differ from Allende's, and what was the outcome for Chile?
-Pinochet favored free-market capitalism, contrasting with Allende's socialist policies. During Pinochet's regime, Chile's economy thrived, although this success is debated in relation to the support Chile received from the U.S. and the cost of Pinochet's human rights abuses.
What is the legacy of the period discussed in the transcript, and how is it viewed in world history?
-The period is viewed as a dark chapter in both Chilean and world history due to the political upheaval, economic struggles, and human rights abuses under the Pinochet regime. It also raises questions about the role of foreign powers, particularly the U.S., in influencing the course of events in other nations.
Outlines
😐 Chilean and American History: A Dark Period
The video discusses a troubling era in Chilean and potentially American history. The speaker emphasizes the importance of skepticism when consuming historical narratives, encouraging viewers to conduct their own research. The context is set with the 1970 Chilean presidential election, where Salvador Allende, a Marxist candidate with communist ideologies and a sympathetic stance towards Cuba and the Soviet Union, wins a plurality of votes. This outcome raises concerns for the U.S., particularly with leaders like President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who are actively monitoring the situation and seeking to prevent Allende's rise to power. The U.S. attempts to influence the Chilean Congress to deviate from its normal procedure of selecting the candidate with the most votes, and there are indications of CIA involvement in potential military coup discussions.
😠 The Tragic Assassination of Rene Schneider
The narrative focuses on the role of General Rene Schneider, the commander-in-chief of the Chilean military, who is portrayed as the only unambiguously good character in the story. Schneider is a constitutionalist, believing that the military should not interfere in politics. Despite pressure from the U.S. and internal forces, Schneider remains committed to his duty to defend Chile. However, a plot by anti-Allende forces, led by Roberto Viaux, who is possibly supported by the CIA, results in Schneider's assassination during a failed kidnapping attempt. The incident polarizes the political situation and may have inadvertently contributed to Allende's confirmation as president. The extent of U.S. involvement in Schneider's death remains a matter of debate.
😔 The Downfall of Allende and the Rise of Pinochet
Allende's presidency sees economic struggles and increasing unrest, with the U.S. accused of using its economic power to destabilize Chile. By 1973, after three years in power, Allende faces a deteriorating situation, including media censorship and widespread strikes. Amidst allegations of U.S. involvement, Allende is deposed in a military coup on September 11, 1973, with his death under disputed circumstances. The coup leads to the rise of Augusto Pinochet, who establishes a military junta and rules Chile as a dictator for the next 17 years. Pinochet's regime is marked by human rights abuses, including mass killings and disappearances, although the Chilean economy flourishes during his tenure. The video concludes by acknowledging the complexity of assigning blame and understanding the full extent of foreign influence on these events.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Chilean history
💡Salvador Allende
💡Cold War
💡CIA involvement
💡Rene Schneider
💡Military dictatorship
💡Augusto Pinochet
💡Economic policies
💡Human rights abuses
💡United States foreign policy
💡Skepticism
Highlights
The video discusses a dark period in both Chilean and American history, emphasizing the importance of skepticism when consuming historical narratives.
Salvador Allende, a known Marxist, won the 1970 Chilean presidential election with a plurality of votes, causing concern in the U.S. during the Cold War era.
The U.S., under President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, was actively involved in attempting to influence the outcome of the Chilean election.
Allende's plurality win led to a congressional decision on the presidency, which the U.S. tried to manipulate through its 'track one strategy'.
General Rene Schneider, a constitutionalist within the Chilean military, opposed any military interference in politics, positioning himself against a potential coup.
A plot to kidnap and depose Schneider, led by anti-Allende General Roberto Viaux, resulted in Schneider's assassination, which had unclear U.S. and CIA involvement.
Schneider's assassination inadvertently increased pressure on the Chilean Congress to confirm Allende as president, which occurred in November 1970.
Allende's presidency was marked by economic struggles, including price-fixing and salary increases that led to shortages.
The U.S. was accused of using its economic power to undermine Allende's administration, while the U.S. claimed it aimed to protect press freedom and prevent totalitarianism.
On September 11, 1973, a military coup led to Allende's deposition; the circumstances of his death, either suicide or assassination, remain disputed.
Augusto Pinochet seized power following the coup, establishing a military junta and ruling Chile under a dictatorship for nearly 17 years.
The U.S. supported Pinochet's regime, viewing him as a counter to Marxism and a proponent of free-market economics, despite his tyrannical rule.
Pinochet's regime was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including mass killings, disappearances, and torture of political dissidents.
Despite its dark human rights record, Chile's economy flourished under Pinochet, leading to debates on the impact of U.S. support versus Pinochet's economic policies.
The video concludes by encouraging viewers to critically assess the historical events and the potential involvement of the CIA and U.S. administration in Chile's political turmoil.
Transcripts
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