Why did Augusto Pinochet overthrow Salvador Allende’s government in Chile in 1973?

The 1973 military coup in Chile, led by General Augusto Pinochet, was the culmination of deep political, economic, and social instability during the presidency of Salvador Allende.12

Allende’s government pursued a program of democratic socialism, which included the nationalization of major industries—most notably U.S.-owned copper mines—as well as land reform and expanded social welfare policies. These initiatives faced significant opposition from the middle class, the oligarchy, and right-wing political forces, who were alarmed by rising inflation, supply shortages, and economic stagnation.234

The political climate was further strained by Cold War tensions. The United States, fearing the spread of socialist influence in the Western Hemisphere, actively undermined Allende’s administration through economic pressure and covert support for opposition groups. As congressional deadlock and social unrest intensified, segments of the military came to view intervention as a necessary means to restore order and eliminate the socialist experiment. Ultimately, these internal and external pressures led the armed forces to overthrow the government on September 11, 1973, establishing a military dictatorship that would govern for the next 17 years.231