What happened in Chile 1971?

September 4:Salvador Allende is elected President of Chile, becoming the first Marxist to be democratically elected to lead a country in the Americas. His term will last from November 3, 1970, until his death in 1973.

Early 1971: The Christian Democratic Party, which controlled the Chilean Senate at the time, passed a constitutional amendment requiring any constitutional changes to be passed with the approval of a two-thirds vote. This made it difficult for Allende's government to implement the reforms it wanted to make, as the opposition parties controlled more than a third of the votes.

May: Allende's government nationalizes the copper industry, angering the United States, which had significant investments in the industry and considered the move to be an illegal expropriation.

June: Allende visits Cuba and meets with Fidel Castro. This further strains relations with the United States, which fears the spread of communism in the Western Hemisphere.

August: The Chilean Constitutional Court rules that the nationalization of the copper industry is constitutional, but the Supreme Court later overturns the ruling, setting the stage for a crisis between Allende's government and the judiciary.

September 11: Allende's supporters hold a rally in Santiago to commemorate the first anniversary of his election. The rally is marked by violence, as police clash with protesters.

October: The Chilean Congress passes a law limiting the powers of the President, further weakening Allende's government.

November: The Chilean Navy revolts against Allende's government, but the revolt is quickly crushed.

December: The Chilean economy begins to deteriorate, as inflation and unemployment rise. The United States covertly provides financial assistance to Allende's opponents, aiming to destabilize his government.