A guerra do Pacífico, o combate naval de Iquique e a construção do nacionalismo chileno nas páginas do jornal El Mercurio de Valparaiso (1879-1884)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the nationalist speeches published by the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio de Valparaíso during the period in which the country engaged in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). Owned by Agustin Edwards, a businessman who had a direct interest in the lands in the dispute over the war, this newspaper played the role of a political actor by influencing the construction of nationalism in Chile and supporting the interests of the ruling elite of the country. In addition, its blazing speeches about the supposed superiority of the Chilean people to their external enemies created a nationalistic atmosphere that provided the unification of its readers opinion in favor of the war and the conquests resulting from the war. The 8 relevance of this communication medium, as well as its circulation among its readers, demonstrates the social dynamics produced by the newspaper and places it as an active player in the shaping of the Chilean society