Why were Chilean Creoles divided over self-government during the independence movement?

During the Chilean independence movement, the Creoles were divided over the extent to which the colony should pursue self-government. While there was a shared desire for administrative change following Napoleon's intervention in Spain, the movement lacked a unified vision for the future of the colony.12

This division was exacerbated by personal ambitions and conflicting political agendas, most notably involving José Miguel Carrera and his brothers, whose push for complete independence was often intertwined with their own personal goals. Even after the initial phase of the struggle, deep-seated tensions persisted between different factions, such as those supporting the Carreras and those aligned with Bernardo O’Higgins.12

Ultimately, the elite groups remained committed to preserving the foundational institutions of society—including law, property, family, and religion—which influenced their varying degrees of support for radical political change.12