The Spanish first attempted the conquest of Chile against the fierce indigenous Araucanian people in 1535. Santiago was founded in 1541. Chile was subject to Spanish rule until independence in 1818.
* 1817û1818 Bernardo O'Higgins leads the republican Army of the Andes in victories against royalist forces at the battles of Chacabuco and Maip·.
* 1879û1883 War of the Pacific with Bolivia and Peru. Chile gains valuable nitrate regions.
* 1891û1924 Parliamentary republic ends with growing political chaos.
* 1936û1946 Communist, Radical and Socialist parties form influential Popular Front coalition.
* 1943 Chile backs USA in World War II.
* 1946û1964 Right-wing Chilean presidents follow US McCarthy policy and marginalize the left.
* 1964û1970 Social reforms of PDC GOVERNMENT ALIENATE THE RIGHT.