Brazilian Military Regime History

Study Notes

On 1 April 1964, Brazil entered a new phase of its history with the military government taking over for 21 years. During this time, there was a struggle between political forces and social groups, with both sides using all their resources: censorship, terrorism, torture, and guerrilla warfare.
The military regime was established on 1 April 1964 with a political plan marked by authoritarianism, suppression of constitutional rights, political persecution, and pre-censorship of the media. In the economy, there was a rapid diversification and modernization of the industrial and service sectors, supported by mechanisms of concentration of wealth, external debt, and open-ness to foreign capital.
After the overthrow of Jango, Ranieri Mazzelli, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, assumes formal leadership of the government and remains in office until 15 April 1964. In practice, however, power is exercised by the military ministers of his government, among them General Arthur da Costa e Silva, of War. During this period is established the institutional act number 1.
The institutional acts are mechanisms adopted by the military to legalize political actions not anticipated and even contrary to the Constitution. Between 1964 and 1978, 16 institutional acts and related decrees are issued that transform the Constitution of 1946 into a patchwork of fragments. The AI-1, issued on 9 April 1964, transfers power to the military, suspends political rights for hundreds of people for 10 years, and invalidates the election of representatives.
The junta is composed of the ministers of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Governs for two months--from 31 August 1969 to 30 October 1969. In September, it decrees, among other measures, the AI-14, which establishes perpetual imprisonment and the death penalty for cases of "revolutionary and subversive warfare".
In December 1968, the Congress is reopened after ten months of recess and elected Emílio Garrastazu Médici, president of the Republic, to a six-year term.
The most authoritarian of all the institutional acts, the AI-5 in practice revokes the constitutional provisions.
The text introduces a number of changes to the Brazilian Constitution, some of which would give the military increased power.
One change would give the military the power to decree a recess, meaning the Brazilian Congress would not be able to meet.
Other changes would give the military the power to censor the media, suspend the right to habeas corpus, and reduce individual rights.
The text also removes all the powers of the legislature and the judiciary.

Description

Test your knowledge on the history of the Brazilian military regime that started in 1964. Explore the political, social, and economic impacts of this period, including institutional acts and changes in the Constitution.