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The Mapuche Bandits and State Formation in Nineteenth Century Chile

Randy Hayes

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Published in Contested Nation: The Mapuche Bandits And State Formation In Nineteenth Century Chile

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The Mapuche bandits of nineteenth-century Chile were a formidable force that challenged the authority of the Chilean state. These bandits were primarily drawn from the Mapuche people, an indigenous group that had resisted Spanish and Chilean conquest for centuries. The bandits operated in the frontier regions of Chile, where they raided Chilean settlements, stole cattle, and attacked government officials. Their activities posed a significant threat to the stability of the Chilean state, and the government responded with a series of military campaigns aimed at suppressing the bandits.

Contested Nation: The Mapuche, Bandits, and State Formation in Nineteenth-Century Chile

by Pilar M. Herr

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4591 KB
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Print length	:	205 pages

The origins of the Mapuche bandits can be traced to the Chilean-Mapuche War of 1860-1861. This war resulted in the defeat of the Mapuche and the incorporation of their territory into Chile. However, many Mapuche refused to accept Chilean rule, and they continued to resist the Chilean state through banditry. The bandits were often led by former Mapuche warriors, and they used their knowledge of the terrain and their familiarity with the local population to their advantage.

The Mapuche bandits operated in a variety of ways. They raided Chilean settlements, stealing cattle and other goods. They also attacked government officials, and they sometimes took hostages. The bandits were often brutal in their attacks, and they often killed their victims. Their activities caused widespread fear and resentment among the Chilean population, and the government was under pressure to take action to suppress them.

The Chilean government responded to the Mapuche bandits with a series of military campaigns. These campaigns were often brutal, and they resulted in the deaths of many Mapuche bandits. However, the government was unable to completely suppress the bandits, and they continued to operate in the frontier regions of Chile for many years.

The Mapuche bandits had a significant impact on the formation of the Chilean state. Their activities challenged the authority of the Chilean state, and they forced the government to devote significant resources to suppressing them. The bandits also played a role in the formation of Chilean national identity. The Chilean government's response to the bandits was often seen as heavy-handed and oppressive, and it contributed to the resentment that many Chileans felt towards the state.

The Mapuche bandits are a reminder of the challenges that the Chilean state faced in the nineteenth century. They were a formidable force that challenged the authority of the state, and they played a significant role in the formation of Chilean national identity.

The Mapuche bandits of nineteenth-century Chile were a complex and fascinating group. They were both a product of the Chilean-Mapuche War and a challenge to the authority of the Chilean state. Their activities had a significant impact on the formation of Chilean national identity, and they remain a reminder of the challenges that the Chilean state faced in the nineteenth century.

Contested Nation: The Mapuche, Bandits, and State Formation in Nineteenth-Century Chile

by Pilar M. Herr

4.6 out of 5