Government Junta of Chile (1924)
Encyclopedia
Government Junta of Chile (September 11, 1924 - January 23, 1925), (also known as the September Junta) was the political structure established to rule Chile
following the military coup that overthrew President Arturo Alessandri
. It ruled the country until it was ousted by yet another military coup, and gave way to the January Junta
.
. The next day the same group of young military officers involved led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
and Major Carlos Ibáñez
, created a "military committee" to defend themselves from threatened sanctions by the government in response to their actions. On September 5, the "military committee" demanded of President Arturo Alessandri
the dismissal of three of his ministers, including the minister of War; the enactment of a labor code, the passage of an income tax law
, and the improvement of the military budget and salaries. Alessandri had no option but to appoint General Luis Altamirano
, the Army Inspector General (Chief of the Army), as head of a new cabinet.
On September 8, General Altamirano appeared in front of Congress to demand the passage of eight laws, including Alessandri's labor code. Congress dared not to protest, and the laws that had been languishing for years were passed in a matter of hours. These included the 8 hour day, suppression of child labour, reglementation of collective bargaining
, legislation on occupational safety, legalization of trade unions, a law on cooperative
s and the creation of courts of conciliation and labour arbitrage
At that point, Alessandri felt that he had become just a pawn of the military, and, on September 9, he resigned and requested asylum at the US Embassy. Congress refused to accept his resignation, and instead granted him a six-months constitutional leave of absence. He left the country immediately for Italy. General Altamirano assumed power as Vice President and on September 11 a military Junta was established to rule the country on the absence of the titular president, Alessandri.
The military movement was not homogeneous, and included an anti-oligarchist
wing headed by Marmaduque Grove and Carlos Ibáñez. They expressed their positions in the September 11 manifesto
, which theorized a kind of "Manifest Destiny
" of the Armed Forces to support the country's development. The Manifest stigmatized the "corruption of the political life," justifying the coup by an alleged institutional crisis. It also alleged imminent "civil unrest" (contienda civil) from which the country had to be protected.
, who was chief of the Army and constitutional Vice President; Admiral Nef
, who was chief of the Navy; and General Bennett
, who became the representative of the "military committee". General Altamirano proceeded to close Congress and, declaring the state of siege
, assumed dictatorial powers. During his conservative rule, he tried several measures to control the economic crisis and to reform the local bureaucracy. Nonetheless, from the very beginning the Junta proved ineffective in implementing any real changes to the political status quo.
The "military committee" started to suspect that a Conservative restoration was under way. The fears seemed confirmed when Ladislao Errázuriz, head of the conservative party and of the Unión Nacional
alliance, suddenly presented his candidacy to the upcoming presidential elections. At that point, the Junta lost the confidence of those who had elevated them to power, chiefly among them the military committee. Young military officers began to contact sectors working in favour of Arturo Alessandri
's return, in particular the Comité Obrero Nacional (National Workers' Committee).
On January 23, 1925, army troops surrounded the La Moneda Palace
and arrested General Altamirano. Following this new coup d'état
, the power was handed to General Pedro Pablo Dartnell
, who 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
History of Chile
The 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...
following the military coup that overthrew President 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....
. It ruled the country until it was ousted by yet another military coup, and 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...
.
Creation
During most of 1924, Chile had been politically paralyzed by a conflict between the President and the conservatively controlled congress, who refused to discuss the laws projects that he sent them. On September 3, 1924 a group of 56 military officers protested for their low salaries, in the incident known as the rattling of the sabresSaber noise
Saber-noise or saber-rattling may be used to refer to a historical incident in Chilean history that took place on September 3, 1924, when a group of young military officers protested against the political class and the postponement of social measures by rattling their sabers within their scabbards...
. The next day the same group of young military officers involved 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 Major Carlos Ibáñez
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 :...
, created a "military committee" to defend themselves from threatened sanctions by the government in response to their actions. On September 5, the "military committee" demanded of President 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....
the dismissal of three of his ministers, including the minister of War; the enactment of a labor code, the passage of an income tax law
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, and the improvement of the military budget and salaries. Alessandri had no option but to appoint 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....
, the Army Inspector General (Chief of the Army), as head of a new cabinet.
On September 8, General Altamirano appeared in front of Congress to demand the passage of eight laws, including Alessandri's labor code. Congress dared not to protest, and the laws that had been languishing for years were passed in a matter of hours. These included the 8 hour day, suppression of child labour, reglementation of collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
, legislation on occupational safety, legalization of trade unions, a law on cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
s and the creation of courts of conciliation and labour arbitrage
At that point, Alessandri felt that he had become just a pawn of the military, and, on September 9, he resigned and requested asylum at the US Embassy. Congress refused to accept his resignation, and instead granted him a six-months constitutional leave of absence. He left the country immediately for Italy. General Altamirano assumed power as Vice President and on September 11 a military Junta was established to rule the country on the absence of the titular president, Alessandri.
The military movement was not homogeneous, and included an anti-oligarchist
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
wing headed by Marmaduque Grove and Carlos Ibáñez. They expressed their positions in the September 11 manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
, which theorized a kind of "Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the 19th century American belief that the United States was destined to expand across the continent. It was used by Democrat-Republicans in the 1840s to justify the war with Mexico; the concept was denounced by Whigs, and fell into disuse after the mid-19th century.Advocates of...
" of the Armed Forces to support the country's development. The Manifest stigmatized the "corruption of the political life," justifying the coup by an alleged institutional crisis. It also alleged imminent "civil unrest" (contienda civil) from which the country had to be protected.
History
The Junta was composed of General AltamiranoLuis 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....
, who was chief of the Army and constitutional Vice President; Admiral Nef
Francisco Nef
Vice Admiral Francisco Nef Jara was a Chilean naval officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile between 1924 and 1925....
, who was chief of the Navy; and General Bennett
Juan Pablo Bennett
Division General Juan Pablo Bennett Argandoña was a Chilean military officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile between 1924 and 1925....
, who became the representative of the "military committee". General Altamirano proceeded to close Congress and, declaring the state of siege
State of Siege
State of Siege is a 1972 French film directed by Costa Gavras starring Yves Montand and Renato Salvatori.-Summary:...
, assumed dictatorial powers. During his conservative rule, he tried several measures to control the economic crisis and to reform the local bureaucracy. Nonetheless, from the very beginning the Junta proved ineffective in implementing any real changes to the political status quo.
The "military committee" started to suspect that a Conservative restoration was under way. The fears seemed confirmed when Ladislao Errázuriz, head of the conservative party and of the Unión Nacional
Unión Nacional
Unión Nacional can refer to:* National Union * National Union...
alliance, suddenly presented his candidacy to the upcoming presidential elections. At that point, the Junta lost the confidence of those who had elevated them to power, chiefly among them the military committee. Young military officers began to contact sectors working in favour 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).
On January 23, 1925, army troops surrounded the La Moneda Palace
Palacio 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...
and arrested General Altamirano. Following this new coup d'état
1925 Chilean coup d'état
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 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 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
Members
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Division 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.... |
| Vice Admiral | Francisco Nef Francisco Nef Vice Admiral Francisco Nef Jara was a Chilean naval officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile between 1924 and 1925.... |
| Division General | Juan Pablo Bennett Juan Pablo Bennett Division General Juan Pablo Bennett Argandoña was a Chilean military officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile between 1924 and 1925.... |
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...
- List of Government Juntas of Chile
- List of Heads of StatePresident of ChileThe President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
- 1925 Chilean coup d'état1925 Chilean coup d'étatThe 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...
Sources
- Intervenciones militares y poder factico en la politica chilena (de 1830 al 2000), Luis Vitale, 2000