Ranquil massacre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ranquil massacre |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Chilean forestry workers and peasants Mapuche rebels |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Arturo Alessandri Óscar Novoa Humberto Arriagada Valdivieso Lonko allies |
Militant workers Lonkos Peasants |
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 Liberals Conservatives |
 Socialists Communists |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 6 soldiers | 477 workers and Mapuches | ||||||
The Ranquil massacre was a terrible event where many forestry workers were killed by the Chilean Army. It happened in the upper Bio-Bio River area of Chile in 1934. This area had recently been opened up for new settlers from Chile and other countries. This was because of the Occupation of Araucanía, which meant large areas of land that once belonged to the Mapuche people became available.
The workers were upset with the people who ran the lumber mills. They rebelled against them. The Chilean Army was then called in to stop the unrest. Sadly, 477 workers, many of whom were Mapuche, died during this event. About 500 people were also taken prisoner.
Contents
Why the Ranquil Massacre Happened
There were many reasons why the Ranquil massacre took place. One big reason was a plan by the Chilean Government between 1881 and 1914. They encouraged about 15,000 settlers from countries like Germany, France, and Switzerland to move to the area.
Land Issues for the Mapuche People
This led to the Mapuche people losing much of their traditional land. They were pushed into smaller areas, like the Lonquimay sector, and became very poor farmers.
Unfair Working Conditions
Another reason was the very harsh conditions faced by workers and farmers in Lonquimay. Their situation was similar to workers in nitrate mines in northern Chile. Workers were often paid not with money, but with special tokens. These tokens could only be used at stores owned by their employers, which was very unfair.
Company Actions and Harassment
Since the late 1800s, there had been serious arguments between Mapuche communities and the new settlers over land. A company called Sociedad Puelma Tupper decided to remove people who were living on lands that the government had given to the company. This caused a big conflict between the Mapuche people and the government. Even though some agreements were made, the Carabineros de Chile (Chilean police) started bothering the people who lived there.
The Uprising and How it Was Stopped
The Mapuche farmers' uprising actually started because of workers at the Lonquimay gold mines. These workers were angry about unfair treatment at the company store. They attacked the store and set it on fire.
Government Response to the Uprising
When this happened, the President of Chile, Arturo Alessandri Palma, sent police and military forces to the area. These forces began to attack the rebels. But instead of stopping the revolt, this made the workers and Mapuche farmers join together. They formed one strong group.
The Battle at Fundo Ránquil
The rebels spread out, armed with shotguns and other tools for defense. They started marching towards a city called Temuco. The government was very worried. They sent a whole regiment of police and Mapuche allies. The main battle happened near a farm called Fundo Ránquil. The police surrounded the rebels on July 6, 1934.
Counting the Victims
Some reports say that around 500 people died. At that time, it was not easy to count victims, especially among the Mapuche people. The official report from 1934 said between 150 and 200 deaths. A historian named Olga Ulianova found documents that showed the Communist Party was involved in the revolt. They helped set up "revolutionary camps" for the workers and farmers. This was the first time the Communist Party really focused on helping the Mapuche people. They called for the return of Mapuche lands and the creation of an "Araucanian Republic."
See also
In Spanish: Masacre de Ránquil para niños
