Military Regime in Brazil

Military Regime in Brazil

https://americasouthandnorth.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/brazil-tanks.jpg

In 1964 the military conducted a coup d'etat where President Joao Goulart was overthrown by the Armed Forces (supported by the US in April) and took over the political power of Brazil and stayed there for twenty years. At first the people were relieved to be free from Goulart and thought the government intervention was a temporary action to restore order and. The Brazilians thought they would soon return to democracy but  they instead faced a military that was physically repressing the people. Individuals were striped of their political rights, basic political rights were being denied and union leaders were being imprisoned and tortured.  

                Factors that lead to the military takeover included  capitalist development  and economic policy. President Goulart imposed restrictions on multinational investment to follow a nationalistic policy of supporting national capital not associated with foreign capital.  Due to these policies, an emphasis on social programs, and the rapid organization of the working class  the military stepped in  before newly organized groups started making demands that were not compatible with a system that was depended on capitalistic development. Brazil's economy was dependent  on state, private national, and international capitol. The military's power was being weakened by high interest rates on external debt, the oil crisis, and world recession despite the continued economical growth. The government was forced to hold elections  because of worker protests. In  the 1985 elections the candidate backed by the military was defeated due to the opposition's "considerable gains."

Sources: https://americasouthandnorth.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/brazil-tanks.jpg

http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/full_text_search/AllCRCDocs/95-1.htm

http://udugandans.org/cms/media-section/270-why-civilians-replaced-military-regimes-in-latin-america