1925 Chilean coup d'état
Encyclopedia
The Chilean coup d'état of 1925 took place on January 23, 1925, when the Chilean military overthrew the September Junta
. Led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
, the troops arrested the President, Luis Altamirano
, and then handed the power to General Pedro Dartnell
as interim President. The organizers of the coup hoped to recall former president Arturo Alessandri, who had been forced into exile after the September Junta's coming to power. However, General Dartnell ultimately refused to rule alone and formed the January Junta a few days later, handing power to Emilio Bello Codecido. Alessandri only returned from exile on March 20, 1925, putting an end to the junta.
had been a few months in power, the "military committee", led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
and Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
, started to suspect that a Conservative restoration was under way. The fears seemed confirmed when Ladislao Errázuriz, head of the Unión Nacional
conservative alliance suddenly presented his candidacy to the upcoming presidential elections. At that point, the September Junta lost the confidence of those that had elevated them to power, chiefly among them the Military Union. Young military officers began to plot with the supporters of Arturo Alessandri
's return, in particular the Comité Obrero Nacional (National Workers' Committee).
. The troops were composed of the "Pudeto" and "Cazadores" Army Regiments and a squadron of Carabineros
, all under the command of Colonel Marmaduque Grove
. Once the area was secured, the troops entered the Palace, and arrested the President, General Luis Altamirano
, and the rest of the September Junta members. Neither the Palace guard nor the government officials presented any resistance, so there were no casualties.
Following this new coup d'état, the power was handed to General Pedro Pablo Dartnell
, who refused to rule alone and in turn gave way to the January Junta
a few days later. The new junta declared that the leaders of the previous junta had "perverted" the intent of the September 11 Manifesto, qualifying them as "traitors" and stating that "oligarchs [were] not the owners of Chile." One of the first act of the new junta was to arrest Errázuriz, while the popular classes supported the new junta at the condition of Alessandri's return to power . They requested the creation of a Constituent Assembly
, while the trade unions threatened to initiate a general strike
. Finally, the Federación Obrera de Chile (FOCH, Labour Federation of Chile) gave their support to the "young officials" who had made promises of implementing social measures .
Government Junta of Chile (1924)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the military coup that overthrew President Arturo Alessandri...
. Led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove Vallejo was a Chilean Air Force officer, political figure and member of the Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile in 1932.-Early life:...
, the troops arrested the President, Luis Altamirano
Luis Altamirano
Division General Luis Altamirano Talavera was a Chilean military officer, minister, Vice President of the Republic and finally President of the Government Junta of Chile between 1924 and 1925....
, and then handed the power to General Pedro Dartnell
Pedro Dartnell
Division General Pedro Pablo Dartnell Encina was a Chilean military officer and member of the Government Junta of Chile in 1925.-Early life:...
as interim President. The organizers of the coup hoped to recall former president Arturo Alessandri, who had been forced into exile after the September Junta's coming to power. However, General Dartnell ultimately refused to rule alone and formed the January Junta a few days later, handing power to Emilio Bello Codecido. Alessandri only returned from exile on March 20, 1925, putting an end to the junta.
Situation before the coup
After the September JuntaGovernment Junta of Chile (1924)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the military coup that overthrew President Arturo Alessandri...
had been a few months in power, the "military committee", led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove Vallejo was a Chilean Air Force officer, political figure and member of the Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile in 1932.-Early life:...
and Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...
, started to suspect that a Conservative restoration was under way. The fears seemed confirmed when Ladislao Errázuriz, head of the Unión Nacional
Unión Nacional
Unión Nacional can refer to:* National Union * National Union...
conservative alliance suddenly presented his candidacy to the upcoming presidential elections. At that point, the September Junta lost the confidence of those that had elevated them to power, chiefly among them the Military Union. Young military officers began to plot with the supporters of Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
's return, in particular the Comité Obrero Nacional (National Workers' Committee).
Military coup d'état
On January 23, 1925, at about 5 PM, army troops surrounded the La Moneda PalacePalacio de La Moneda
Palacio de La Moneda , or simply La Moneda, is the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile. It also houses the offices of three cabinet ministers: Interior, General Secretariat of the Presidency and General Secretariat of the Government...
. The troops were composed of the "Pudeto" and "Cazadores" Army Regiments and a squadron of Carabineros
Carabineros de Chile
thumb|250px|Carabineros de Chile, patrolling a street in [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]]The Carabiniers of Chile, are the uniformed Chilean national police force and gendarmerie, created on April 27, 1927. Their mission is to maintain order and create public respect for the laws of the country...
, all under the command of Colonel Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove Vallejo was a Chilean Air Force officer, political figure and member of the Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile in 1932.-Early life:...
. Once the area was secured, the troops entered the Palace, and arrested the President, General Luis Altamirano
Luis Altamirano
Division General Luis Altamirano Talavera was a Chilean military officer, minister, Vice President of the Republic and finally President of the Government Junta of Chile between 1924 and 1925....
, and the rest of the September Junta members. Neither the Palace guard nor the government officials presented any resistance, so there were no casualties.
Following this new coup d'état, the power was handed to General Pedro Pablo Dartnell
Pedro Dartnell
Division General Pedro Pablo Dartnell Encina was a Chilean military officer and member of the Government Junta of Chile in 1925.-Early life:...
, who refused to rule alone and in turn gave way to the January Junta
Government Junta of Chile (1925)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to restore power to President Arturo Alessandri, after he had been deposed in 1924. On January 23, 1925, a military movement of young officers, wrestled power from the previous September Junta...
a few days later. The new junta declared that the leaders of the previous junta had "perverted" the intent of the September 11 Manifesto, qualifying them as "traitors" and stating that "oligarchs [were] not the owners of Chile." One of the first act of the new junta was to arrest Errázuriz, while the popular classes supported the new junta at the condition of Alessandri's return to power . They requested the creation of a Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
, while the trade unions threatened to initiate a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
. Finally, the Federación Obrera de Chile (FOCH, Labour Federation of Chile) gave their support to the "young officials" who had made promises of implementing social measures .
Sources
- Intervenciones militares y poder factico en la politica chilena (de 1830 al 2000), Luis Vitale, 2000 (p. 36)
See also
- History of ChileHistory of ChileThe territory of Chile has been populated since at least 2,000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to subdue and colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory became a colony from 1540 to 1818, when it gained independence from Spain...
- Arturo AlessandriArturo AlessandriArturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
- deposed by 1924 coup - September JuntaGovernment Junta of Chile (1924)Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the military coup that overthrew President Arturo Alessandri...
- January JuntaGovernment Junta of Chile (1925)Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to restore power to President Arturo Alessandri, after he had been deposed in 1924. On January 23, 1925, a military movement of young officers, wrestled power from the previous September Junta...
- Marmaduque GroveMarmaduque GroveMarmaduque Grove Vallejo was a Chilean Air Force officer, political figure and member of the Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile in 1932.-Early life:...
- Carlos Ibáñez del CampoCarlos Ibáñez del CampoGeneral Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...
- List of Chilean coup d'étatChilean coup d'étatThis is a list of the coups d'état that have taken place in Chile during its independent history:-1780s:...