Revolution of 1930

Quick Facts: Who was Revolution of 1930?

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Revolution of 1930

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Armed insurrection ending the First Brazilian Republic and ushering in the Vargas Era.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Revolution of 1930 (Portuguese: Revolução de 1930) was an armed insurrection across Brazil that ended the Old Republic. The revolution replaced incumbent president Washington Luís with defeated presidential candidate and revolutionary leader Getúlio Vargas, concluding the political hegemony of a four-decade-old oligarchy and beginning the Vargas Era. For most of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Brazilian politics had been controlled by an alliance between the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The presidency had alternated between them every election until 1929, when incumbent President Washington Luís declared his successor would be Júlio Prestes, also from São Paulo. In response to the betrayal of the oligarchy, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraíba formed a Liberal Alliance backing opposition candidate Getúlio Vargas, president of Rio Grande do Sul.

Career & Major Achievements

The Alliance denounced the victory of Prestes in the March 1930 presidential election as fraudulent. They went no further though until late July, when Vargas's running mate, João Pessoa, was assassinated. The assassination was largely due to a personal feud, but Pessoa became a martyr for the revolutionary cause. On 3 October, Rio Grande do Sul, under the leadership of Vargas and Góis Monteiro, rebelled. By the next day, the revolution had reached the North and Northeast under Juarez Távora, and Minas Gerais formally declared allegiance to the revolution within a week of its start, despite minor resistance.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Military officers, acting independently of both the government and the revolutionaries, worried about the possibility of a protracted civil war, swiftly led a military coup to depose Luís in Rio de Janeiro, on 24 October. Hoping to deter further bloodshed, three higher military officers, Generals Augusto Tasso Fragoso, João de Deus Mena Barreto, and Admiral Isaías de Noronha formed a military junta and briefly ruled the country, for less than two weeks. After negotiations between the revolutionaries and the junta, Vargas arrived in Rio and took power from the junta on 3 November. For the following seven years, Vargas achieved an unprecedented consolidation of power with transitional governments until he proclaimed the Estado Novo in 1937 in a coup d'état. Vargas remained in power until he was forced out of office in 1945.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1929: 1929 Milestone — The presidency had alternated between them every election until 1929, when incumbent President Washington Luís declared his successor would be Júlio Prestes, also from São Paulo.
2. 1930: 1930 Milestone — The Revolution of 1930 (Portuguese: Revolução de 1930) was an armed insurrection across Brazil that ended the Old Republic.
3. 1937: 1937 Milestone — For the following seven years, Vargas achieved an unprecedented consolidation of power with transitional governments until he proclaimed the Estado Novo in 1937 in a coup d'état.
4. 1945: 1945 Milestone — Vargas remained in power until he was forced out of office in 1945.

Notable Quotes by Revolution of 1930

“Allow the revolution by vote, before the people do so through violence.” (1929)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Revolution of 1930

True or False: “The Revolution of 1930 was solely triggered by economic collapse following the Wall Street Crash.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the economic crisis was a major factor, the immediate flashpoint for armed mobilization was the assassination of João Pessoa.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolf Wölfli — Historical peer (Died in 1930) (1930): Swiss outsider artist known for meticulous, symbolic, and autobiographical works.
• Adonis (poet) — Historical peer (Born in 1930) (1930): Pioneering Syrian poet, essayist, and translator who revolutionized modern Arabic verse.
• Abdel Halim Hafez — Historical peer (Born in 1929) (1929): Iconic Egyptian singer and actor, known as 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale'.
• Adrienne Rich — Historical peer (Born in 1929) (1929): Influential American poet, essayist, and leading voice in feminist literary discourse.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.
• Alain Badiou — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Influential French philosopher known for 'Being and Event' and universalism.
• Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi — Historical peer (Born in 1945) (1945): Yemeni politician who served as the second President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022.
• Adolf Hitler — Historical peer (Died in 1945) (1945): Austrian-born German politician who became dictator of Germany during the Nazi era.

Frequently Asked Questions about Revolution of 1930