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The 1964 Revolution |
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The period 1964 to 1985 was one of military rule, with some relaxation of control after 1979. This period saw five presidents, ad of them military generals. The first, Castello Branco, came to power on a wave of anti-communism. His main task was to stabilize the country's political and economic situation. Extensive amendments were made to the Constitution to provide the government with the powers and mechanisms to achieve those goals. During the next 15 years, 1968-1983, the government issued several Institutional Acts which were, in effect, presidential decrees. Many individual and collective rights were suspended during this period. New austerity measures affected economic and political life. Collective bargaining was eliminated, strikes were virtually outlawed, and the working class movement was curtailed.
By 1968, in the term of President Arthur da Costa e Silva, the economic strategies appeared to be working. Inflation was contained and foreign firms began to make new investments, assured of the regime's stability. Politically, however, in response to the continued unrest, the government became increasingly repressive. President Costa e Silva resigned in 1969 because of illness. He was immediately succeeded by a military junta and two months later by Emílio Garrastazu Médici. Between 1967 and 1974 Brazil enjoyed one of the greatest rates of economic growth in the world with real growth as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching 14 percent in 1973. By the mid 1970's Ernesto Geisel, who was then president, proposed a period of political liberalisation - gradual steps which would lead to restoration of democratic rule. In 1979, João Baptista Figueiredo was inaugurated President. This was also the beginning of "opening" ("abertura"), the process of restoring the political rights which had been revoked. Many of the country's exiles were allowed to return. The year also marked an acceleration of the public's demand for re-democratization. Figueiredo maintained a steady hand on the opening process. In 1982, the country held direct elections for state governors, the first such elections since 1965.
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