NEW HOMELAND (CHILE): FACTS AND MAIN CHARACTERS - HISTORY - 2025

The New Homeland was a period in Chilean history in which the foundations were laid for the country's independence. It began in 1817, after the victory of the independentistas in the battle of Chacabuco, and ended in 1823 with the resignation of power by Bernardo O'Higgins.

The first years of this historical stage are characterized by the confrontations between the colonial Spanish troops and the supporters of independence. The results of these battles ended up benefiting the latter, although the Spanish achieved several important victories.

Embrace of Maipú - San Martín and O'Higgins

Once independence had been formally declared, the new Chilean government proceeded to consolidate power structures. Thus, he promulgated a Constitution and designed some of the symbols that represent the country. Likewise, she strove to achieve international recognition and to prevent the Spanish from reacting and regaining territory.

The main character of the New Homeland was Bernardo O'Higgins, who held the position of Supreme Director and held the government throughout the period. Other important protagonists were San Martín, Manuel Rodríguez or Lord Thomas Cochrane.

Most important facts

After the Old Homeland finished with its leaders in exile or dead, Chile had fallen back into Spanish hands. However, the patriots did not cease in their efforts to achieve independence.

One of those who had had to leave the country for Buenos Aires had been Bernardo O'Higgins. In Argentina, together with San Martín, he dedicated himself to preparing the return to Chile to present battle to the colonial authorities.

On January 21, 1817, leading 1,000 soldiers, O'Higgins left Mendoza to enter Chile. The so-called Army of the Andes went, through the mountains, to meet the royalist troops.

Battle of Chacabuco

On February 12, 1817, the Battle of Chacabuco took place, a farm near the capital. After having managed to cross into Chile through the Andes by four different steps, the Liberation Army defeated the Spanish.

Before the news, the Hispanic governor fled Santiago. Along with what was left of his army, he took refuge in Concepción while waiting for reinforcements from Peru.

For their part, some triumphant San Martín and O'Higgins entered Santiago on February 14. The creoles and aristocrats then proposed that San Martín be appointed Supreme Director.

However, he did not accept the position and proposed O'Higgins in his place. In this way, on the 16th of that same month, an assembly created for that purpose approved his appointment by acclamation.

Rescue in Juan Fernández

One of O'Higgins' first measures as Supreme Director was to send a rescue expedition to Juan Fernández, where several patriots remained prisoners. The party managed to take the port of Valparaíso.

Later, he defeated the Spanish who had entrenched themselves in Talcahuano gaining control of another port for Chile. In the same way, he ordered the end of the so-called montoneras, groups of deserters, bandits and indigenous people who operated on the banks of the Biobío.

As for its legislative work, it created the Court of Vindication. This was in charge of the claims of the patriots on their properties confiscated by the Spanish. Finally, he expelled the priests who remained faithful to Spain.

Striped Court Surprise

Despite the above events, there was still quite a bit of resistance from the Spanish. The most important battle won by the royalists was the so-called Surprise. This name comes from the maneuver that the Spanish carried out to surprise the troops of San Martín and O'Higgins.

When the news of the independence defeat reached Santiago, panic spread among the inhabitants. In fact, a rumor about O'Higgins' death began to circulate, which worsened citizen morale.

The reaction was immediate and many volunteers volunteered to fight for independence. O'Higgins made his comeback in Santiago on March 24 and was greeted with 24 cannon shots.

Embrace of Maipú

On April 5, one of the most important battles in the future of Chilean independence took place. The Spaniards, encouraged by the previous victory, set course for Santiago. San Martín organized the defense in the Altos de Maipú, near the capital.

The fight lasted two and a half hours. The royalists were defeated and fled pursued by San Martín. However, the troops commanded by O'Higgins cut off the retreat and, between them, put an end to the last Spanish resistance. The embrace that the two independence leaders gave each other was one of the most symbolic moments of the war.

Declaration of Independence

The independence of Chile was declared with a solemn declaration in 1818. First, the Act that proclaimed it was dated January 1, in Concepción. On February 2 it was approved and signed by Bernardo O'Higgins as Supreme Director. Finally, the oath of independence took place in Santiago on February 12.

After this ceremony, the Spanish troops left the country and the new authorities began to draft a Constitution. One of the first laws passed by the rulers was to abolish titles of nobility, as they sought to create a country with fewer inequalities.

Consolidation of independence

The following years were dedicated to the consolidation of the new country. Not only at the legislative level, but also by carrying out military actions that would end the risk of a Spanish counterattack from nearby territories.

Among these actions are The Liberating Expedition, which San Martín and Lord Thomas Cochrane led to help the independence of Peru.

Likewise, Lord Cochrane himself managed to take Valdivia and other southern cities, although he failed when trying to conquer Chiloé.

O'Higgins resignation

On January 28, 1823, Bernardo O'Higgins resigned from the post of Supreme Director. With that resignation the period of the New Homeland ended.

Main characters

Bernardo O'Higgins

Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was born on August 20, 1778 in Chillán. He came from a family of wealthy landowners, with Spanish and Irish roots.

Despite not having received military training, he was one of the leaders in the struggle for Chilean independence. In the first stage he had some clashes with other prominent independentistas, during the so-called Old Homeland.

The Spanish reaction forced him to go into exile in Argentina, from where he returned to fight the royalists again. After the victory, he was proclaimed Supreme Director and was one of the signatories of the Act of Independence.

In 1823, he resigned after encountering much resistance to some of the laws in the new Constitution. He spent his last years in Peru, where he died on October 24, 1842.

Jose de San Martin

José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras came to the world on February 25, 1778, in Yapeyú, (Virreinato del Río de la Plata). He was one of the most important independence fighters in all of Latin America, since, in addition to the Chilean, he participated in that of Argentina and Peru.

He lived in Spain for some years, completing his studies and joining the army. When he returned to America, specifically to Buenos Aires, he joined the independence movement that was forming.

He was one of the organizers of the Army of the Andes, fundamental for the war in Chile. Together with O'Higgins, he participated in the most important battles of the conflict.

After the Chilean declaration of independence, he went to Peru. There he was one of the protagonists in the fight against the Spanish crown and declared the country's independence in 1821.

After meeting with Simón Bolívar in Guayaquil, in 1822, he ended his military career and left for Europe. He died in Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), on August 17, 1850.

Mariano osorio

On the Spanish side, Manuel Osorio stood out, a governor and military man who managed to defeat the independentists on some occasion. The most prominent was the Battle of Cancha Rayada, which was about to cost O'Higgins his life.

The Battle of Maipú meant their final defeat, although Osorio managed to escape. He was tried for his responsibility, but he was acquitted and died in Havana in 1819.

References

1. Chilean Memory. New Homeland (1817-1823). Obtained from memoriachilena.cl
2. Tourism Chile. The New Homeland. Obtained from turismochile.com
3. Icarito. The New Homeland (1817-1823). Obtained from icarito.cl
4. John J. Johnson, Marcello A. Carmagnani. Struggle for independence. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. Texas Tech University College of Architecture. (1817-1823) Chilean War of Independence. Retrieved from arch.ttu.edu
6. Minster, Christopher. Biography of Bernardo O'Higgins. Retrieved from thoughtco.com
7. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Jose de San Martin. Retrieved from encyclopedia.com
8. History Hit. 1818: The Declaration of Chilean Independence. Retrieved from historyhit.com