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About 10 thousand years ago, Native Americans started to settle in Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire on the northern part of the land, but the Mapuche successfully drove the Incas away despite their lack of organization.
In 1520, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Megallan discovered Chile while circumnavigating the planet. The straight where he crossed was named after him. The Spanish, to whom Magellan worked for, did not find enough silver and gold in Chile but they recognized the country's agricultural potential so they made the nation a part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
In 1808, a drive for independence from Spain was driven. A junta proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish regime. A move for complete independence soon followed, until it was finally gained on February 12, 1818.
Today, Chile follows Representative Democracy as the form of government. The nation, however, continues to struggle both politically and economically.