The president remains concealed in the Argentine…
September 1891 CE
On the morning of this date, when the term for which he had been elected president of the republic terminates, he commits suicide by shooting himself.
The excuse for this act, put forward in letters written shortly before his end, is that he did not believe the conquerors would give him an impartial trial.
The death of Balmaceda finishes all cause of contention in Chile, and is the closing act of the most severe and bloodiest struggle that the country has ever witnessed.
In the various engagements throughout the conflict more than ten thousand lives were lost, and the joint expenditure of the two governments on military preparations and the purchase of war material exceeded ten million pounds.
The defeat of the presidential forces open a so-called "pseudo-parliamentary" period in Chile's history, which will last from 1891 to 1925.
As opposed to a "true parliamentary" system, the executive is subject to the legislature but checks and balances of executive power are weakened.
The position of President remains as head of state but its powers and control of the government are reduced.
People
Commodities
Regions
South America
View →Subregions
