The civil war grew from a constitutional and fiscal dispute over the unresolved 1891 budget and the limits of executive authority. Balmaceda favored more personal direction, while Congress defended procedure and its constitutional control. Both sides could claim to seek Chile’s welfare, so the conflict concerned who possessed legitimate authority and how quickly decisions should be made. The army divided, but almost the entire navy aligned with Congress and gave the dispute a decisive maritime dimension.
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The constitutional crisis behind Chile’s 1891 civil war
The 1891 civil war grew from President José Manuel Balmaceda’s conflict with Congress over the budget and legitimate executive authority, while the army divided and almost the entire navy backed Congress.