History ETDs

Publication Date

5-20-1969

Abstract

Rio Grande do Sul traditionally has been Brazil's third most powerful state and has spawned an impressive number of national political leaders. For more than twenty-three of the thirty-eight years since the 1930 revolution, the Brazilian president has been a Riograndense, including current President Arthur da Costa e Silva. This dissertation focuses on the role of this state in Brazilian politics from the Rio Grande-led 1930 revolution, which terminated the First Republic, through the 1964 revolu­tion. which overturned the national government of Riograndense João Goulart. There is also a short discussion of the impact of the 1964 revolution on Rio Grande politics through 1967.

The 1930-1964 span can be divided into three major periods. First came the vibrant 1930-1937 period, "The Rio Grande do Sul Era in Brazilian Politics." It began with the 1930 revolution, which carried Rio Grande Governor Getulio Vargas into the Brazilian presidency. It ended with the 1937 coup, in which Vargas toppled the Second Republic, of which he was president, and established the New State (Estado Novo), of which he became dictator. During these turbulent seven years, Brazilian politics was dominated by Gauchos (Riograndenses), particularly Vargas, Oswaldo Aranha, his right-hand man, and Jose Antonio Flores da Cunha, governor of Rio Grande. Basic was the struggle between Vargas, a resolute centralist, and Flores da Cunha, an equally determined federalist and commander of the powerful Gaucho military machine. The 1937 victory of Vargas over Flores signaled the triumph of centralism over state autonomy and the temporary end of political democracy in Brazil.

The second major period was that of the New State dictatorship from 1937 to 1945. It brought the extinction of political parties and the suppression of most public political activity, although there were sporadic attempts at revolution Id opposition. The major significance of this era lay in the basic changes which the New State wrought in the national and Gaucho political, economic and social structures.

The third period lasted from the fall of the New State and establish­ment of the Third Republic in 19 5 through the 1964 revolution. Despite the continued national success o􀀥 individual Gaucho politicians, it soon became apparent that Rio Grande' political and economic position had declined precipitously since the 1930-1937 era. The Gauchos themselves increased their own state's woes through bitter internal struggles, in which politicians constantly sacrificed Rio Grande's welfare on the altars of personal ambition and party victory. This period brought the continuous confrontation between the forces for and against Vargas and his personal political machine, the Rio Grande1-based Brazilian Labor Party.

In a remarkable comeback. deposed dictator Vargas recaptured the presidency through election in 19150. However, under tremendous pressure he committed suicide in 1954. His labor empire passed into the hands of his three Gaucho political heirs---João Goulart, Leonel Brizola and Fernando Ferrari--and these three became the focus of the Rio Grande con­flict.

In 1961 the Gauchos momentarily overcame the deep state divisions and united completely for the first time since 1930. When the military attempted to block the ascension of Vice President João Goulart to the presidency following the resignation of President Jânio Quadros, Rio Grande mobilized and imposed the inauguration of the Gaucho Laborite. However, the euphoria of this ephemeral unity soon disappeared and political warfare returned. The 1964 military revolution, which toppled Goulart, found Rio Grande again divided and unable to repeat its 1961 feat. In the years following the revolution, these state divisions remained and Rio Grande continued to suffer the noxious effects of the internecine political struggle.

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Degree Name

History

Department Name

History

First Committee Member (Chair)

Edwin Lieuwen

Second Committee Member

Troy Smith Floyd

Third Committee Member

Martin Cyril Needler

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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