CHILE DURING ALLENDE'S PRESIDENCY
Salvador Allende was the leader of the Chilean Socialist Party and was elected as president in 1970. His election was a significant moment in history as he became the first Marxist in the world to gain power in a democratic vote. Like Castro's government, Allende's government faced serious health and socio-economic problems. Allende's solution was to nationalise the copper industry and to redistribute wealth and land in Chile. To improve the economy, wages were drastically increased and companies were prohibited from increasing their prices. Allende also restored diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Although Allende's reign last for only three years, his aspirations for social change exhibited similarities with the Cuban revolution. In 1971, as the new leader of Cuba, Castro visited Chile for four weeks in order to provide assistance to Allende. One of Allende's policies was called "La via Chilena a socialismo" or "The Chilean way to socialism". Within this policy, it is evident that the drafting of this policy had been influenced by Cuba's revolution ideals. One major proposal put forward by this policy was to nationalise Chile's copper industry. His plan included many similarities to Castro's ideas. One major initiative was to nationalise the copper industry. His government believed that Chile was being exploited by "parasitic foreign and domestic capitalists". Therefore in addition to nationalising the copper industry, Allende's government took over other foreign firms, oligopolistic industries, banks and large estates. In an effort to improve Chile's social standards, just like Castro attempted in Cuba, Allende made new policies concerning the health care system, the educational system, land redistribution and agrarian reform, and a program providing free milk for infants.
The Cuban revolution also sparked the establishment of the Marxist revolutionary group called the MIR. Their inspiration was primarily drawn from the Cuban revolution; they hoped to replicate Castro's revolutionary achievements in Chile.
Although Allende's reign last for only three years, his aspirations for social change exhibited similarities with the Cuban revolution. In 1971, as the new leader of Cuba, Castro visited Chile for four weeks in order to provide assistance to Allende. One of Allende's policies was called "La via Chilena a socialismo" or "The Chilean way to socialism". Within this policy, it is evident that the drafting of this policy had been influenced by Cuba's revolution ideals. One major proposal put forward by this policy was to nationalise Chile's copper industry. His plan included many similarities to Castro's ideas. One major initiative was to nationalise the copper industry. His government believed that Chile was being exploited by "parasitic foreign and domestic capitalists". Therefore in addition to nationalising the copper industry, Allende's government took over other foreign firms, oligopolistic industries, banks and large estates. In an effort to improve Chile's social standards, just like Castro attempted in Cuba, Allende made new policies concerning the health care system, the educational system, land redistribution and agrarian reform, and a program providing free milk for infants.
The Cuban revolution also sparked the establishment of the Marxist revolutionary group called the MIR. Their inspiration was primarily drawn from the Cuban revolution; they hoped to replicate Castro's revolutionary achievements in Chile.