History of the Americas
Internal Assessment
To what extent was participation of the United States and the CIA the paramount factor in the fall of Salvador Allende?
Rohun Joseph
HOA IA
May 2, 2014
Plan of Investigation
"To what extent was participation of the United States and the CIA the paramount factor in the fall of Salvador Allende?"
The primary goal of this investigation is to determine how much blame lies on the United States and its agencies in the events leading to the 1973 coup d'état of the Chilean government, led by President Salvador Allende. The investigation focuses on the tactics used by the Nixon Administration and the CIA in the destabilizing of the Chilean government and economy. It also investigates Allende's political achievements and gauges their effect on the coup. In the Evaluation of Sources section two sources used in the investigation (The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier and Staff Report of the Select Committee to study Governmental Operations with respect to Intelligence Activities: Covert Actions in Chile.) are evaluated based on their origin, purpose, value, and limitations.
Chilean President Salvador Allende's parents: Salv...
An East German stamp commemorating Allende
Estatua de Salvador Allende Gossens frente al Pala...Summary of Evidence
On September 11, 1973, a military coup d'état took place in Chile, overthrowing the democratically elected leader Salvador Allende, allowing for the rise of the Allende's military Commander in Chief, Augusto Pinochet. (Cold War Museum) This totalitarian regime maintained power for many years and tarnished Chile's record as one of the few politically stable countries in Latin America at the time.
Starting before the 1970 presidential elections in Chile the United States and the National Security Council had met to formulate plans to avoid a Communist friendly government in Chile. The plan was two-fold. Track I would employ anti-communism propaganda and influencing legislators in the country to vote against a socialist leader, should the circumstance arise. Track...