After the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889 and the coup attempt by the president himself in 1891, Brazil still went through many other coups that changed the country's course.
On November 10, 1937, under the command of then-president Getúlio Vargas, military police troops surrounded the Palácio Tiradentes (seat of the Chamber of Deputies) and the Palácio Monroe (seat of the Federal Senate), Congress was closed, political parties were abolished, opponents were arrested, and a new Constitution was promulgated. That night, in an address to the nation, Vargas announced the establishment of the Estado Novo, a dictatorship that lasted until 1945 and was the result of a series of events that began with another coup, that of 1930, which put an end to the First Republic, with the deposition of Washington Luís by the military.
Troops sent by Getúlio surround the Palácio Monroe, seat of the Senate, on the morning of the coup, in 1937. Collection: Museu da República. Source: Agência Senado
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of a grand building, identified as "Senado Federal" at the top. The spatial arrangement begins with trees and plants in the foreground, followed by a group of soldiers on horseback positioned in front of the building. The building has a classical façade with columns and arches, and is adorned with decorative elements. In the background, the sky is partly cloudy.And the early years of the Nova República, begun in 1930, were far from peaceful: in 1932, São Paulo rebelled against the government in the Constitutionalist Revolution. In 1935, it was the communists' turn, with uprisings in the Armed Forces' bases that took place in Rio and other Brazilian cities and became known as the "Intentona Comunista", resulting in a state of siege being declared until July 1937.
Correio da Manhã, article from 10/1/1937, announcing the "seizure" of the Cohen Plan by the Army General Staff. The document would be proven false in 1945. Digital Newspaper Archive of the National Library
Image description: The image is an old newspaper, dated Friday, October 1, 1937. It is in black and white. At the top, there is the title "CORREIO DA MANHÃ". Below, there is a subtitle mentioning the Comintern's instructions for its agents' action against Brazil. The main text describes a plan of action organized by the Comintern to guide its agents in Brazil. There are references to proletarian demands and strategies to combat proletarian action. The text mentions the failure of 1935 and the determining reasons for the new front of struggle.In September 1937, during the campaign for the presidential elections that would take place the following year, the Cohen Plan was made public: a denunciation of a fake plan for a new communist uprising caused panic among the population and triggered a strong anti-communist campaign. Taking advantage of the repercussions, on October 2, Congress approved the government's proposal, and a state of war was declared for 90 days. The document was proven false in 1945, but in 1937, there was no questioning of its authenticity. A month later, the Estado Novo dictatorship would begin.
Getúlio Vargas surrounded by supporters. Photo: Arquivo Nacional.
Image description: This is a black and white photograph showing a public ceremony. In the foreground, two men are in the front, one holding flowers and the other with his hands crossed. In the background, several people are watching the ceremony. On the left, a man in a suit stands alongside other uniformed officials. Behind them, more people are present, some also wearing military uniforms.
