Goulart and the fall of the Second Republic Brazilian military government

joão goulart, lawyer, left-leaning president ousted armed forces. fled uruguay, family owned estâncias.

after presidency of juscelino kubitschek, right wing opposition elected jânio quadros, based electoral campaign on criticizing kubitschek , government corruption. quadros campaign symbol broom, president sweep away corruption. in brief tenure president, quadros made moves resume relations communist countries, made controversial laws , law proposals, without legislative support, couldn t follow agenda.

in last days of august 1961, quadros tried break impasse resigning presidency, apparently intention of being reinstated popular demand. vice-president, joão goulart, member of ptb , active in politics since vargas era, @ time outside country visiting china. @ time brazil s president , vice president elected different party tickets. military top brass tried prevent goulart assuming presidency, accusing him of being communist, legalist campaign in support of goulart strong. crisis solved parliamentarian solution - arrangement decreased powers president creating new post of prime minister filled tancredo neves , instituting parliamentary republic.

brazil returned presidential government in 1963 after referendum, and, goulart s powers grew, became evident seek implement base reforms (bottom-up reforms) such land reform , nationalization of enterprises in various economic sectors (which remove nation antique latifundial economy, considered communist reforms), regardless of assent established institutions such congress (goulart had low parliamentarian support, due fact centrist attempts win support both sides of spectrum gradually came alienate both).

joão goulart had no parliamentary support, , forced shift left of mentor getúlio vargas , forced mobilize working class , peasantry amid falling urban bourgeois support. core of brazilian populism—economic nationalism—was no longer appealing middle classes.

on april 1, 1964, after night of conspiracy, rebel troops made way rio de janeiro, considered legalist bastion. são paulo s , rio de janeiro s generals convinced join coup. prevent civil war, , in knowledge usa openly support army, president fled first rio grande sul, , went exile in uruguay.

united states involvement

u.s. president john f. kennedy (left) , president goulart during review of troops on april 3, 1962. kennedy mulled possible military intervention in brazil

the ambassador lincoln gordon later admitted embassy had given money anti-goulart candidates in 1962 municipal elections, , had encouraged plotters; many united states military , intelligence personnel operating in 4 united states navy oil tankers , aircraft carrier uss forrestal, in operation code-named operation brother sam. these ships had positioned off coast of rio de janeiro in case brazilian troops required military assistance during 1964 coup. document gordon in 1963 president john f. kennedy describes ways joão goulart should put down, , fears of communist intervention supported soviets or cuba.,

washington recognized new government in 1964, , hailed coup d état 1 of democratic forces had allegedly staved off hand of international communism. american mass media outlets henry luce s time gave positive remarks dissolution of political parties , salary controls @ beginning of castello branco mandate.