Grammatically, the phrase functions as a proper noun or a specific noun phrase. It is not merely a date and a country but a distinct identifier for a singular historical event: the 1973 Chilean coup d'tat. This usage elevates a specific point in time to the status of a named occurrence, much like "the French Revolution" or "the Industrial Revolution," signifying its historical weight and specific identity.
The event itself took place on September 11, 1973, when the Chilean armed forces, led by General Augusto Pinochet, staged a coup that overthrew the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende. The coup culminated in the bombing of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago and the death of President Allende. This action marked a dramatic and violent rupture in the country's long history of democratic governance and was carried out within the geopolitical context of the Cold War, with documented covert support from the United States government.
The long-term significance of this date is the inauguration of a 17-year military dictatorship under Pinochet. This period was defined by the suspension of constitutional rights, severe political repression, and systematic human rights violations, including torture, executions, and forced disappearances. Simultaneously, the regime implemented radical free-market economic policies. Therefore, the term encapsulates not just the events of a single day but also the beginning of a traumatic and transformative era in Chilean history, representing a profound break with its democratic past and the onset of authoritarian rule.
