The social issue in Chile (1880-1920) It was the period through which the social problems of the working class were exposed, although it also affected all sectors of the country. The recognition of the lack of housing, hygiene and good working conditions of the working class is understood as a social issue..
This recognition prompted the subsequent implementation of a series of policies to address the situation, which also led Chile towards modernity. Among other components that also contributed to this context, the growth of industry and the stabilization of capitalism stand out..
These elements influenced the mobilization of part of the rural populations to the urban centers. Likewise, it is worth mentioning that during this period there were also three ideological currents in the different social classes that tried to explain the causes of the events.
Thanks to social turmoil, social laws and unions were enacted in different areas of the economy.
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Some scholars affirm that the beginning of the social question in Chile occurred at the end of the s. XIX. When they appeared, they were the first criticisms of Chilean society of the time, among which the marked inequality between social classes stood out..
In addition, it was developed in a context where the country made progress towards the industrialization of various sectors of the economy, which forced hundreds of people to move to urban centers such as Santiago de Chile, Valparaíso and Concepción..
This, coupled with the poor conditions of workers both in companies and in their homes, as well as the lack of infrastructure that would allow meeting demand, caused this problem to also affect all other sectors of the country.
That is why at the end of the s. In the 19th century, the first leftist worker associations and political parties were founded in order to demand better working conditions..
However, by the beginning of the s. In the twentieth century, more anarchist groups were organized, which were in charge of organizing forceful and radical demonstrations.
It is worth mentioning some relevant events for the time:
-One of the most famous protests was the Valparaíso dockers' strike, in which 35 people died due to unrest between civilians and members of the Army.
-In 1905, the largest demonstration to date was registered in Santiago de Chile, with more than 50,000 people gathering demanding better conditions for workers in the meat industry..
-Two years later, there was a similar event but in the mining camps in Iquique. Once again, the protesters were withdrawn by the authorities.
-In 1909 the Chilean Workers Federation (FOCH) was founded, being the first national union organization that unified all workers from different sectors of the economy.
-In 1912 the Socialist Workers Party was founded, which was also added to the FOCH.
-Thanks to social pressures, social and labor policies were enacted, such as the law on weekly rest, the law on accidents at work (1916) and the regulation of strikes (1917).
In 1880 a series of social phenomena led to the so-called "social question", which was a term initially used during the Industrial Revolution..
Both in Europe and in Chile, it alludes to the various social and political problems that prevailed in the 1880-1920 period..
The main characteristics of the social issue that developed in the country are mentioned below:
-The situations that affected the working and popular class were illiteracy, prostitution, alcoholism, overcrowding, a variety of diseases, strikes, inflation, class struggles, the emergence of unions, stabilization of capitalism, the increase of the mining industry, absorption of the labor force and sanitary conditions restriction.
-The aforementioned provoked a series of social movements that exerted pressure to obtain recognition from the government, and thus guarantee better living conditions..
-Ideological currents were produced that tried to explain the causes of the social question. It should be noted that these postulates were made by the three main sectors of the country: the oligarchy, the middle and / or liberal class and the working class..
-The first workers' associations were founded at the end of the s. XIX. Likewise, in 1896 the Centro Social Obrero was created as an organization in charge of representing the needs and requests of the affiliates..
-It is believed that migrations from Europe and other American countries helped the spread of Marxist ideas, which would permeate the poorest classes.
-At the beginning of the s. XX marches were organized led by associations that demanded better working conditions and wages.
-Although these movements and groups made it possible to consolidate laws and policies in favor of the worker, it is said that at present the problems of inequality, inconveniences in coexistence and increased individualization persist.
-The consolidation of the capitalist system.
-The development of industrialization that produced the migration of peasants to urban centers. In addition, this produced a disorderly and uncontrolled urbanization.
-Poor working conditions of workers.
-Poor living conditions of the lower classes as they are subjected to overcrowding, lack of basic conditions of sanitation, clothing and education.
-Unheeded complaints from the more powerful classes.
-Influence of left-wing ideological currents.
-The conservative Catholic class adhered to Christian doctrine to explain the causes and reasons for this social phenomenon. He argued that it was the product of a moral crisis, causing the elite to lose the north in terms of caring for and protecting the less favored. Therefore, there was a greater demand for social actions.
-The liberal current, mostly supported by the middle class, argued that the main causes of the social question were the product of the lack of economic development, inflation, labor exploitation and the illiteracy of the poor. For this reason, he advocated a liberal State, attached to legislation that promoted the progress of the economic sectors..
-The working class stuck to Marxist and left-wing principles to explain the Chilean social question. According to this, the problem was due to the capitalist system and the liberal state, which led the poor to leave the fields to go to the city. He also emphasized that the solution was not charity, but autonomy and power for the workers..
The pressures of the movements of the less favored classes promoted a group of measures that were refined over time:
-In the first instance, the enactment of the law of Sunday rest (1907) and workers' rooms (1906).
-Due to the economic prosperity that the country experienced in the following years, it was necessary to adjust these laws. For this reason, a new weekly rest law was made, as well as policies that covered important issues such as hiring, insurance provision, union organizations and mediators in labor disputes..
-The founding of the national union and the Communist Party, trade union and left-wing organizations.
-By 1920 both the middle class and the working class were recognized as important social groups to include in government policies..
-It is currently believed that, despite the aforementioned advances, social differences still persist.
Then copper makes its triumphal entry into the market. The Braden Cooper Co arrives in Chile and remains with the El Teniente Mine. Then came Chile Exploration Co owned by the Guggenheian family. Copper became the raison d'être of Chilean mining. One mono production gave way to another.
But the social question is here to stay. In the following decades social laws were enacted. Unions were consolidated and social justice was strengthened on paper.
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