O provisional government was the first phase of It was Vargas, starting in 1930, right after the victory of the revolution that put Getulio Vargas in power, until 1934, when the National Congress promulgated the new Brazilian Constitution. During this period, Vargas governed Brazil through a decree-law, since the National Congress had been closed since October 1930 and the Constitution of 1891 had been cancelled.
Paulistas were the first to accuse Vargas of being a dictator and took up arms in 1932 to demand a new Constitution for Brazil. Despite the defeat to the federal troops, the Paulistas got what they wanted: in 1934, the National Congress enacted a new constitution which brought some new features, such as the female vote, the secret ballot and the first labor laws.
Read too: Universal suffrage - the right of all citizens to vote and be voted
1930 revolution
In 1930, Brazil had presidential elections. At that time, voting was open and the chances of electoral fraud were high. According to the
Ppolicy of çfaith with therehey, paulistas and mineiros took turns in the presidency of the republic. That year, the paulista Washington Luis he would end his term of office and would have to appoint a miner for his succession. However, he broke the agreement signed with the miners, and the your candidate for the elections was Julio Prestes, another from São Paulo. This made Minas Gerais politically break with São Paulo and migrate to the opposition.O Getúlio Vargas from Rio Grande do Sul was the opposition candidate and led the Liberal Alliance. His deputy was João Pessoa, from Paraíba. Both represented states excluded from policies that benefited only the oligarchies that were in the power. Despite the support he won, Vargas and Pessoa were defeated by the governing slate led by Júlio Prestes.
THE João Pessoa's death, on July 26, 1930, rekindled the oppositional flame. His murder was considered a political crime, a persecution of the federal government against its opponents, and became the fuse for the 1930 revolution. Troops departed from Rio Grande do Sul in the direction of Rio de Janeiro to depose President Washington Luís and prevent the inauguration of Júlio Prestes.
Although the federal government believed in the victory of the loyalist troops, the revolutionaries won. On October 24 of that year, they arrived in Rio de Janeiro. The president tried to react to the revolution, but was advised by Cardinal Paes Leme, Archbishop of Rio, to surrender. Days later, Getúlio Vargas disembarked in the federal capital to assume power from the provisional government.
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How was the provisional government?
The provisional government began, shortly after the victory of the 1930 Revolution, with the arrival of Getúlio Vargas at the Palácio do Catete, seat of the Executive Power, when Rio de Janeiro was the federal capital. At first measures of the new government were:
the closing of the National Congress;
the annulment of the current Constitution (the first of the republic, promulgated in 1891);
the extinction of political parties. Vargas would rule by decree-law.
Until 1930, state governors were called state presidents. With the victory of the revolution, the presidents were deposed, which marked the end of the colonels' rule and dthe old oligarchies about the states. In the place, federal interventores were sworn in, leaders allied with Vargas and who were supposed to carry out the orders of the federal Executive in the states, as stated in the Code of Interventors.
During the provisional government, Vargas decided rationalize public administration. He created some ministries, such as Education and Health and Labor, Industry and Commerce. The new government was starting to invest in industrialization and in the care of the working class that began to be formed when the first base industries were installed.
Vargas began to harness its image Thethe labor and granted rights to urban workers in the industry, such as paid rest, vacations and other benefits. Unions lost their autonomy, becoming instruments of the state. The Ministry of Education and Health was under the command of Gustavo Capanema, who tried to gather intellectuals to be his advisors, like the poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade.
See too: How did the consolidation of labor laws in the Vargas era?
Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932
![In 1932, the paulistas took up arms and fought against the provisional government of Getúlio Vargas and in favor of a new constitution. [1]](/f/ac093917f7e28008d3625eb8f7923a13.jpg)
Getúlio Vargas had been in power for almost two years and so far no there was fulfilled your promise, made shortly after the victory of the revolution, to convene a Constituent Assembly to draw up a new Constitution for Brazil and a general election. His way of governing, by decree-laws, displeased São Paulo.
Since 1930, Paulistas were no longer in the presidency of the republic. Because of that, on July 9, 1932, the armed struggle between São Paulo and the federal government began, the Constitutionalist Revolution. Since 1932, the paulistas accused Getúlio Vargas of governing Brazil as if he were a dictator. Euclides Figueiredo, one of the leaders of the São Paulo revolution, stated that, until the start of the combat, São Paulo was waiting for the support of Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. However, this support did not come, and the Paulistas fought alone against the federal troops.
The Paulistas surrendered two months later. The rebels were arrested, but later the federal government gave them amnesty. To this day, São Paulo people are proud of the date they took up arms against Getúlio Vargas and in favor of the Constitution. To learn more about this episode of the Brazilian republic, read: Constitutionalist Revolution.
1934 Constitution
Despite the defeat in the Constitutionalist Revolution, the paulistas got what they wanted. In 1933, Congress was reopened and Vargas called a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution for Brazil. The Charter was promulgated in 1934 and brought important items such as:
the secret ballot;
the creation of the Electoral Justice;
the female vote;
the labor rights granted by Vargas to urban workers in industry.
On the solemnity of promulgation of the 1934 Constitution, Vargas was elected by the National Congress to the Presidence of rpublic, ending the provisional government and beginning the constitutional phase of the Vargas era.
![The 1934 Constitution guaranteed the female vote, making room for the participation of women in Brazilian political life. [1]](/f/04d7e1143d1646d6d4d627f452248b83.jpg)
Summary on the Provisional Government of Getúlio Vargas
The provisional government began right after the victory of the 1930 Revolution, with Getúlio Vargas in power.
Encouraging industrialization and creating the Ministries of Labour, Trade and Industry and Education and Health.
Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932: Paulistas took up arms against Vargas, but were defeated.
1934 Constitution: female vote, secret ballot, labor rights, Electoral Justice.
Also access: 1937 Constitution – Charter that legitimized the Estado Novo in Varguista
solved exercises
Question 1 - The 1930 Revolution ended the period in our history called República Velha and placed Getúlio Vargas as head of the provisional government. About this historic moment, check the correct alternative:
A) Getúlio Vargas took power and started the Estado Novo dictatorship.
B) In the economic area, Getúlio Vargas encouraged industrialization.
C) Getúlio Vargas made an economic plan that rescued coffee growers from the crisis.
D) At the end of the provisional government, Vargas called for direct presidential elections.
Resolution
Alternative B. During the provisional government (1930-1934), Getúlio Vargas initiated the policy to encourage industrialization, mainly with basic industry. The Ministry of Labor, Industry and Commerce was created, whose main objectives were to manage this industrialization policy and guarantee the labor rights of urban workers.
Question 2 - In 1934, the National Congress promulgated a new Constitution for Brazil. Read the alternatives and tick the one that correctly brings some items contained in the new Letter:
A) Guarantee of the illiterate vote in direct elections.
B) Direct election of Getúlio Vargas for president.
C) Female vote, secret ballot and creation of the Electoral Court.
D) Labor rights, open voting and indirect elections.
Resolution
Alternative C. The 1934 Constitution brought important changes, such as the guarantee of women's participation in politics through the female vote. Also, during the old republic, electoral fraud happened mainly because the vote was open, with that, the Charter brought the guarantee of the secret ballot. Another significant change that reflected the new moment experienced by Brazil was the guarantee of labor rights.
Image credit
[1] CPDOC/FGV
By Carlos César Higa
History teacher
