Why Chile Celebrates September 18
Each September, Chile fills with the sights and sounds of the Fiestas Patrias, or national holidays. Flags appear on buildings, dancers perform the cueca, and families and neighbors gather to eat and celebrate. The central date, September 18, reaches back more than two centuries to a meeting in Santiago. But that meeting did not declare Chile independent. It marked an important early step in a longer and uncertain process.
A crisis across the ocean
In 1810, Chile was part of the Spanish Empire. Officials governed the territory in the name of the Spanish king, and decisions made in Europe could affect life on the other side of the Atlantic. News traveled slowly by ship, but it brought reports of a crisis that raised questions about who had the right to govern.
In 1808, Napoleon’s forces invaded Spain, and King Ferdinand VII was forced from the throne. With the king held captive, groups in Spain formed governing bodies called juntas to resist French control and claim authority in his name. Across Spanish America, people also debated what should happen when the king could not rule.
- authority:
- The power or right to make decisions and give orders.
- territory:
- An area of land governed by a particular authority.
- captive:
- Held against one's will and unable to leave freely.
- reforms:
- Changes made to improve a system or its rules.
- royalist:
- Supporting a king or the rule of a monarchy.
- proclaimed:
- Announced publicly and officially.
- commemorates:
- Honors or remembers an important person or event.
- festivities:
- Activities held as part of a celebration.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did the crisis in Spain create uncertainty about who should govern Chile?
- 2Why does the author distinguish the September 1810 meeting from a declaration of independence?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“Why Chile Celebrates September 18” is a explanatory article reading passage about Chilean independence, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (874 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.