-
Salvador Allende was born in Chile into an upper-middle-class family.
-
Allende was a Marxist activist and a doctor. He was one of the founding members of Chile's Socialist Party. -
He later was minister of health when Pedro Aguirre Cerda was president. -
Salvador Aguirre became a senator in 1945, and he ran for president several times from the 50s to the 70s, when he won a presidential race. Since he lacked a popular majority, the Chilean Congress had to confirm his election. -
The President of the US, Richard Nixon, ordered the CIA to prevent Allende coming into power. They attempted to make Chile's congress deny Allende the presidency, launched an international campaign of disinformation against him, and paid a right-wing general to assassinate the chief of Chile’s armed forces. -
Although the US opposition led to a debate in the Chilean Congress, it was agreed that Allende would be president. -
Due to the maneuvering of the US president, the Chilean economy was in shambles. There were food shortages, inflation, labor strikes and violence. Although workers and peasants still supported Allende, the middle class was against him. There were rumours of a military coup. -
The CIA helped the conspirators to plan the coup. When the armed forces started attacking Chile's democratic government, Allende and his presidential guard hid at the presidential palace, La Moneda. Although he was ordered to surrender, he refused. He survived many attacks to the building, but apparently he commited suicide by firing his rifle against his chin. However, Fidel Castro and many of his supporters affirmed that he was shot advancing on army troops.