Argentina's Independence Day, Jack White's birthday (of the White Stripes), International Day for Disarmament… July 9th is a very important date in many places, including Brazil. After all, the date is also known as Day of the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932.
Until 1930, Brazil lived in a period known as the “Old Republic”. This political model guaranteed the election of a common candidate among the oligarchies of several “brother” states. In the year 1930, São Paulo broke its long partnership with Minas Gerais and nominated its own candidate, the famous Júlio Prestes (it has an overpass, a train station and a square named after the lawyer throughout the city).
Júlio Prestes was elected in 1930, but in October of this year a revolt led by the states of Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul culminated in the deposition of then-president Washington Luís and the impediment of the inauguration of Júlio Prestes. Getúlio Vargas assumes the position of Head of the Provisional Government, but the story unfolds differently.
The new government began to exercise its power based on decrees, which had the force of law, and no longer on a constitution – in this case, the Constitution in force until then, which was that of 1891. But this gave more and more powers to the new Head of State, until in 1932, the state of São Paulo, aligned with the states of Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul, broke out a major armed revolt in these states.
A Revolucao Constitucionalista de 1932 had, among other demands on the federal government, the drafting of a new Constitution and the deposition of Getúlio Vargas from power. The revolt, which began peacefully through acts and protests on May 23, 1932, resulted in an armed struggle, which began on the fateful day 9 July.
Campaign called on the population to volunteer — Photo: Disclosure/ MMDC Itapetininga
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The fighting was intense and resulted in over 900 officially recorded deaths. Studies say, however, that this number is much higher. In October 1932, the São Paulo revolutionaries surrendered, as they had exhausted their resources (human and financial). One of the saddest episodes involving the Revolution involves a very famous person in our history: Santos Dumont.
Dumont, the inventor of the airplane, decided to return to Brazil in 1915. A resident of the coast of São Paulo in the decade, he learned of the use of his invention in fights that took place throughout the state. The planes were used in some bombing raids during the conflicts., and Santos has always been against the use of airplanes in armed conflicts. Already depressed with depression, it is said that the news of the bombings of Campo de Marte, in São Paulo, saddened him. Dumont committed suicide on July 23, 1932.
Although defeated, the State of São Paulo managed to have one of its requests granted. In 1933, Getúlio Vargas convened a new Constituent Assembly, responsible for creating a new Constitution. A year later, Brazil based its State on the 1934 Constitution, which lasted only 3 years. Vargas, who had been re-elected in 1933 through an indirect election, carried out another coup d'état and from 1938 onwards, Brazil began to experience the so-called “Estado Novo”. But that story is for another post, haha.
But after all, what does the Constitutionalist Revolution mean so much for the State of São Paulo?
In addition to being a very important moment in the history of Brazil as a whole, the event showed the state's dissatisfaction with the federal government. Much was said at the time that the São Paulo revolt was also a way for the state to achieve its independence and found a new country.
Anyway, the Revolution showed the power that the population has to demand certain rights. Throughout the city and state of São Paulo, there are several monuments, streets and squares.
For example, under the Obelisk of Ibirapuera, in the vicinity of Ibirapuera Park, are the remains of some of those killed in the Revolution. A 9th of July Avenue, one of the most important in the capital, was named after the date. and her own Julio Prestes Station, close to Uliving 433, was named in 1938 in honor of the president prevented from exercising his function.
Wassup did you know all this?
