Chilean Constitution of 1833

The constitution emerged after the Chilean Civil War of 1829 in which the conservative Pelucones (Whigs) defeated the Pipiolos (liberals).

Its main ideologues where Mariano Egaña, Manuel José Gandarillas and Diego Portales all of whom saw from a conservative point of view the necessity of a unitarian state under a strong leadership.

Chilean liberals considered the constitution authoritarian and made attempts to overthrow the government.

During the failed Revolution of 1851 liberals in La Serena declared the constitution abolished.

After the 1891 Chilean Civil War the constitution was amended in 1891, 1892 and 1893, and was interpreted to endorse a parliamentary system.

Painting of Diego Portales. The Constitution of 1833 has been seen as the embodiement of the "Portalian thought".