The Life of

SALVADOR ALLENDE

Early Years

• Born June 26, 1908 in Valparaíso, Chile• He was born into the Chilean upper-class• His family was very involved in politics• Went to a high school in Valparaíso• Graduated in 1926 with a medical degree

from the University of Chile• His first cousin’s daughter is Isabel Allende,

author of “The House of the Spirits”

Medicine and Politics

• In 1933, he co-founded the Socialist Party of Chile and became its chairman

• In the same year, he published his doctoral thesis

• In it, he condemned the proposals by Cesare Lombroso

• In 1937, he won a parliamentary seat for Valparaíso

More Medicine and Politics

• In 1938, he was in charge of the electoral campaign of the Popular Front

• After its victory, Allende became the Minister of Health in the government

• In the same year, he sent a letter to Adolf Hitler denouncing the persecution of the Jews

• In 1945, Salvador Allende became a Senator for five different Chilean provinces

Politics

• He had three unsuccessful bids for presidency• First was in 1952 with the Frente de Accion

Popular party (Popular Action Front) or FRAP• Second try was in 1958, again with the same

party• Last unsuccessful try came in 1964• He was with FRAP, just like the two times

before

Becoming President

• Salvador Allende become the Chilean president in 1970

• He ran with the Unidad Popular coalition (Popular Unity)

• However, there was some confusion during that election

Presidency

• One of first things Allende did was to implement a socialist program called La vía chilena al socialsimo (The Chilean Path to Socialism)

• The Organization of American States convention had implemented a prohibition after the Cuban Missile Crisis

• In 1971, Allende re-established relations with Cuba

• Fidel Castro visited Chile for a month, angering people

The Presidency Continues

• Throughout his presidency, the tensions between the poor descendents of the indigenous people in Chile and the white settlers grew because of the poor economy

• Copper, Chile’s main export, decreased in value rapidly during Allende’s years in office

• Allende’s philosophies were no longer supported by the Chilean Congress

The Coup d’état• Problems with Christian Democrats grew• In August of 1973, the Chamber of Deputies

voted in favor of a Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy

• In early September of 1973, Allende suggested a plebiscite or referendum as a solution to the problem

• He planned to give a speech on September 11, 1973 outlining his solution

• Instead, the Chilean military staged a U.S. supported coup against Allende that day

His Death• While La Moneda (Chile’s presidential palace)

was being attacked with gunfire and explosions, Allende gave his final speech to Chileans over the radio

• His speech indicated that he would continue to fight to the end

• He died shortly after he spoke on the radio• At the time and for many years after, it was

thought that he was killed by the forces staging the coup

• However, it was later said to be a suicide

This shows Salvador Allende at La Moneda as president of Chile.

This is a picture of La Moneda during the coup d’état on September 11, 1973.

THE QUIZ1) Where in Chile was Salvador Allende born?

Valparaiso

2) In Allende’s doctoral thesis, he condemned the proposals of what person?

Cesare Lomborso3) After the victory of the Popular Front in 1938,

Allende became the _________ in the government?

Minister of Health

4) How many unsuccessful bids for presidency did Allende have?

3

5) In what year did Allende win and become president?

1970

6) What party did Allende run with during that victory in 1970?

Unidad Popular (Popular Unity)

7) What was the name of the convention that prohibited governments in the western hemisphere from establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba?

Organization of American States

8) What main export of Chile’s value decreased greatly while Allende was president?

Copper

9) On what day did the coup d’état occur?

September 11, 1973

Bibliography“Salvador Allende.” Fundación Salvador Allende. 2007. Allende. 26 April 2009 <http://www.salvador-allende.cl/biografia/homenajes/homenajes.html>

“Salvador Allende.” Wikipedia. 2009. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 April 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Allende>

“September 11 in History.” Timeline. 2001-2009 September11News.com. 26 April 2009 <http://www.september11news.com/Sept11History.htm>