Liberal Party (Chile)
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Party of Chile was a Chilean political party created by a faction of pipiolos
in 1849. After the conservative victory in the Chilean Civil War of 1829 the liberals became the principal opposition party to the Conservative Party
. During the Liberal Party's early history one of its main goal was to create a new constitution to replace the Chilean Constitution of 1833
. Rigged election helped to prevent the Liberal Party's presidential candidates to be elected until 1861, during that time elements of the liberal party made attempts to overthrow the government, these were the Revolution of 1851
and the Revolution of 1859. These failed insurrections led a large number of liberals into exile, among them Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna
. In 1857 a group of liberal split off to form the Radical Party
which would held power from 1938 to 1952. Originally an anticlericalist party that championed classical liberalism
, the liberals later became a right-wing party.
In 1966 the Liberal Party it joined with their old antagonists, the United Conservative Party
, to form the National Party
.
Pipiolos
thumb|180px|[[Ramón Freire]], hero of the [[Chilean War of Independence]] and head of state between 1823 and 1826 and again in 1827, was an icon of the Pipiolo movementPipiolos was the name used to refer to Chilean upper class liberals in early 19th century...
in 1849. After the conservative victory in the Chilean Civil War of 1829 the liberals became the principal opposition party to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Chile)
The Conservative Party of Chile was one of the principal Chilean political parties since its foundation in 1836 until 1949, when it broke apart. In 1953 it reformed as the United Conservative Party and in 1966 joined with the Liberal Party to form the National Party...
. During the Liberal Party's early history one of its main goal was to create a new constitution to replace the Chilean Constitution of 1833
Chilean Constitution of 1833
thumb|right|200px|Painting of Diego Portales. The Constitution of 1833 has been seen as the embodiement of the "Portalian thought".The Constitution of 1833 was the constitution used in Chile from 1833 to 1925 when it was replaced by the Constitution of 1925...
. Rigged election helped to prevent the Liberal Party's presidential candidates to be elected until 1861, during that time elements of the liberal party made attempts to overthrow the government, these were the Revolution of 1851
Revolution of 1851
The Revolution of 1851 was an attempt to overthrow the conservative government by Chilean liberals.In the elections of 1851 the conservative candidate José María de la Cruz Prieto lost against another conservative, Manuel Montt in Concepción...
and the Revolution of 1859. These failed insurrections led a large number of liberals into exile, among them Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna was a Chilean writer, journalist, historian and politician. Vicuña Mackenna was of Irish and Basque descent.-Biography:...
. In 1857 a group of liberal split off to form the Radical Party
Radical Party (Chile)
The Radical Party of Chile was a Chilean political party. It was formed in 1863 by a split in the Liberal Party. Not coincidently, it was formed shortly after the organization of the Grand Lodge of Chile, and it has maintained a close relationship with Chilean Freemasonry throughout its life...
which would held power from 1938 to 1952. Originally an anticlericalist party that championed classical liberalism
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
, the liberals later became a right-wing party.
In 1966 the Liberal Party it joined with their old antagonists, the United Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Chile)
The Conservative Party of Chile was one of the principal Chilean political parties since its foundation in 1836 until 1949, when it broke apart. In 1953 it reformed as the United Conservative Party and in 1966 joined with the Liberal Party to form the National Party...
, to form the National Party
National Party (Chile) (1966-1973)
See also National Party .The National Party of Chile was a Chilean political party formed by the union of the United Conservative Party, the United Liberal Party and the Partido Acción Nacional .It represented...
.
Presidential candidates
The following is a list of the presidential candidates supported by the Liberal Party or the pipiolos. (Information gathered from the Archive of Chilean Elections).- 1829Chilean presidential election, 1829The Chilean presidential election of 1829 took place on May 15-16 1829, through a system of electors.The newly enacted Constitution of 1828, provided that the President was to be chosen by electors. Two-hundred and sixteen electors, three for each congressman, were to be chosen...
: Francisco Antonio PintoFrancisco Antonio PintoFrancisco Antonio Pinto y Díaz de la Puente was a Chilean political figure. He was twice President of Chile between 1827 and 1829.-Early life:He was born in Santiago, the son of Joaquín Pinto and Mercedes Díaz de la Puente...
(won), Joaquín VicuñaJoaquín VicuñaJosé Joaquín Vicuña Larraín was a Chilean politician whose selection as vice president by Congress precipitated the Chilean Civil War of 1829. He was of Basque descent....
(lost) - 1831Chilean presidential election, 1831The Chilean presidential election of 1831 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of General José Joaquín Prieto....
: none - 1836Chilean presidential election, 1836The Chilean presidential election of 1836 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the reelection as President of General José Joaquín Prieto.Prieto faced little opposition in this election and was easily reelected.-Results:Source: ...
: none - 1841Chilean presidential election, 1841The Chilean presidential election of 1841 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of General Manuel Bulnes....
: Francisco Antonio PintoFrancisco Antonio PintoFrancisco Antonio Pinto y Díaz de la Puente was a Chilean political figure. He was twice President of Chile between 1827 and 1829.-Early life:He was born in Santiago, the son of Joaquín Pinto and Mercedes Díaz de la Puente...
(lost) - 1846Chilean presidential election, 1846The Chilean presidential election of 1846 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the unanimous election as President of General Manuel Bulnes.-Results:...
: none - 1851Chilean presidential election, 1851The Chilean presidential election of 1851 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Manuel Montt. Montt was the first non-military president....
: José María de la CruzJosé María de la CruzGeneral José María de la Cruz Prieto was a Chilean soldier.The son of Luis de la Cruz and of Josefa Prieto Sotomayor, and was a cousin of future presidents José Joaquín Prieto and Manuel Bulnes...
(lost) - 1856Chilean presidential election, 1856The Chilean presidential election of 1856 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the reelection as President of Manuel Montt.-Results:-References:#...
: none - 1861Chilean presidential election, 1861The Chilean presidential election of 1861 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of José Joaquín Pérez.Pérez was a "unity" candidate between the conservatives and liberals. He won the election unanimously....
: José Joaquín PérezJosé Joaquín PérezJosé Joaquín Pérez Mascayano was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1861 and 1871....
(won) - 1866Chilean presidential election, 1866The Chilean presidential election of 1866 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of José Joaquín Pérez.-Results:-References:#...
: José Joaquín PérezJosé Joaquín PérezJosé Joaquín Pérez Mascayano was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1861 and 1871....
(won) - 1871Chilean presidential election, 1871The Chilean presidential election of 1871 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Federico Errázuriz Zañartu.-Results:-References:#...
: Federico Errázuriz ZañartuFederico Errázuriz ZañartuFederico Marcos del Rosario Errázuriz Zañartu was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1871 and 1876. He was born in Santiago in 1825 and died there in 1877. Errázuriz was of Basque descent....
(won), José Tomás de Urmeneta (lost) - 1876Chilean presidential election, 1876The Chilean presidential election of 1876 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Aníbal Pinto, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...
: Aníbal PintoAníbal PintoAníbal Pinto Garmendia was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1876 and 1881.-Early life:...
(won) - 1881Chilean presidential election, 1881The Chilean presidential election of 1881 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Domingo Santa María, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...
: Domingo Santa MaríaDomingo Santa MaríaDomingo Santa María González was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1881 and 1886.-Early life:...
(won), Manuel BaquedanoManuel BaquedanoManuel Jesús Baquedano González was a Chilean soldier and Chief of Government, who served as Commander-in-chief of the Army during the War of the Pacific. Manuel Baquedano was of Basque descent.-Early life:...
(lost) - 1886Chilean presidential election, 1886The Chilean presidential election of 1886 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of José Manuel Balmaceda, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...
: José Manuel BalmacedaJosé Manuel BalmacedaJosé Manuel Emiliano Balmaceda Fernández was the 11th President of Chile from September 18, 1886 to August 29, 1891. Balmaceda was part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy in Chile...
(won) - 1891Chilean presidential election, 1891The Chilean presidential election of 1891 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Jorge Montt, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...
: Jorge MonttJorge MonttJorge Montt Álvarez was vice-admiral of the Chilean Navy and president of Chile from 1891 to 1896.-Early life:...
(won) - 1896Chilean presidential election, 1896The Chilean presidential election of 1896 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Federico Errázuriz Echaurren...
: Vicente ReyesVicente ReyesPedro Vicente Reyes Palazuelos , was a Chilean lawyer, journalist, political figure, and candidate during the 1896 presidential election....
(lost) - 1901Chilean presidential election, 1901The Chilean presidential election of 1901 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election of Germán Riesco as President.-Results:Source: ...
: Germán RiescoGermán RiescoGermán Riesco Errázuriz was a Chilean political figure, and he served as President of Chile between 1901 and 1906.-Early life:...
(won) - 1906Chilean presidential election, 1906The Chilean presidential election of 1906 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Pedro Montt.-Results:Source: ...
: Pedro MonttPedro MonttPedro Elías Pablo Montt Montt was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile from 1906 to his death from a probable stroke in 1910...
(won) - 1910Chilean presidential election, 1910A presidential election was held in Chile in 1910, due to President Pedro Montt's death while in office on August 16 that year. His successor, Vice President Elías Fernández Albano, also died less than a month later. It was Emiliano Figueroa, the new Vice President, who called for new presidential...
: Ramón Barros LucoRamón Barros LucoRamón Barros Luco was President of Chile between 1910 and 1915.Barros Luco was born in 1835 in Santiago, Barros Luco was son of Ramón Luis Barros Fernández and Dolores Luco Fernández de Leiva. He graduated from Law School in 1858...
(won) - 1915Chilean presidential election, 1915A presidential election was held in Chile in 1915. It was a bitterly contested election between Juan Luis Sanfuentes —a coalition candidate of the Liberal Party and Conservative Party— and Javier Ángel Figueroa —supported by the Liberal Alliance parties. Sanfuentes beat Figueroa by a single vote,...
: Javier Ángel FigueroaJavier Ángel FigueroaJavier Ángel Figueroa was a Chilean lawyer and politician....
(lost) - 1920Chilean presidential election, 1920The Chilean presidential election of 1920 resulted in the election as President of Arturo Alessandri.-Popular vote:Carried out on June 25, 1920. -Electoral vote :Carried out on July 25, 1920.-Electoral vote :...
: Alliance faction: 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....
(won), Union faction: Luis Barros BorgoñoLuis Barros BorgoñoLuis Barros Borgoño was a Chilean politician who served as Vice President of Chile in 1925.Born in Santiago, he was son of Manuel Barros Arana and Eugenia Borgoño Vergara...
(lost) - 1925Chilean presidential election, 1925A presidential election was held in Chile on October 24, 1925. It was the first direct election of a President in the country's history, as mandated by the 1925 Constitution, promulgated on September 18 of that year. Presidents were previously elected by a group of directly elected...
: Emiliano FigueroaEmiliano FigueroaEmiliano Figueroa Larraín was President of Chile from December 23, 1925 until his resignation on May 10, 1927. He also served as Acting president for a few months on 1910.-Biography:...
(won) - 1927Chilean presidential election, 1927A presidential election was held in Chile on May 22, 1927. Following President Emiliano Figueroa's resignation on April 7, 1927, Interior minister Carlos Ibáñez del Campo took his place as Vice President and called for elections. He competed with communist Elías Lafertte.-Results:Source:...
: none - 1931Chilean presidential election, 1931-Results:Source:...
: Juan Esteban MonteroJuan Esteban MonteroJuan Esteban Montero Rodríguez was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as president of Chile between 1931 and 1932.-Early life:...
(won), 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....
(lost) - 1932Chilean presidential election, 1932The Chilean presidential election of 1932 was held on October 30 of that year between:* Former President Arturo Alessandri for the Liberal Party.* Former Head of State Marmaduque Grove for the Socialist Party....
: 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....
(won), Enrique Zañartu Prieto (lost) - 1938Chilean presidential election, 1938A presidential election was held in Chile on October 25, 1938.-Results:* Withdrew candidacy before election and gave his support to Aguirre.Source:...
: Gustavo Ross (lost) - 1942Chilean presidential election, 1942A presidential election was held in Chile on February 2, 1942. Juan Antonio Ríos was a member of the conservative wing of the Radical Party and defeated General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, portraying himself as a conservative anti-fascist candidate...
: Carlos Ibáñez (lost) - 1946Chilean presidential election, 1946A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1946 to elect the successor to Juan Antonio Ríos, who died in office in June of that year.-Popular vote:Source: -Congressional election:Source:...
: Fernando AlessandriFernando AlessandriFernando Alessandri Rodríguez was a Chilean political figure, candidate of the centre-right in Chile's 1946 presidential election...
(lost) - 1952Chilean presidential election, 1952A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1952. It was the first presidential election where women were allowed to vote, after gaining the right in 1949...
: Arturo Matte (lost) - 1958Chilean presidential election, 1958A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1958. Because none of the candidates obtained an absolute majority needed to win outright, a confirmation by Congress was carried out on October 24, 1958 to declare the winner.-Election:...
: Jorge AlessandriJorge AlessandriJorge Alessandri Rodríguez was the 27th President of Chile from 1958 to 1964, and was the candidate of the Chilean right in the crucial presidential election of 1970...
(won) - 1964Chilean presidential election, 1964A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1964. Christian Democratic candidate Eduardo Frei Montalva won the election by an absolute majority....
: Eduardo Frei MontalvaEduardo Frei MontalvaEduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean political leader of world stature. In his long political career, he was Minister of Public Works, president of his Christian Democratic Party, senator, President of the Senate, and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970...
(won)