Military Aspects of the 1930 Brazilian Revolution

Abstract

A NY UNDERSTANDING of contemporary Brazil pivots on the 1930 revolution, which resulted in a new political and social course of development. The final form of this development is yet to be seen, for it is still in a state of redefinition. The role of the army in Brazilian political affairs has always been subtle but crucial. The military brought about the collapse of the Empire of Dom Pedro II in 1889, and it remained behind the scenes when civilians took over the chief executive's office in 1894. Civilian presidents usually could depend on the support and assistance of the professional army corps throughout the period 1894-1930. Younger elements in the army, notably lieutenants, organized unsuccessful revolts throughout the period but the majority of higher ranking officers did not join nor sympathize with these rebels. The older professional army officers generally closed ranks against these extralegal attempts to bring about political change. A key to understanding why the 1930 revolution succeeded is found in the basically conservative nature of the military leaders of the revolt. Those in command of the 1930 revolution were not the lieutenants of 1922 and 1924. The commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the 1930 revolution was Lieutenant Colonel G6oes Monteiro. The famous tenentes took their orders from him and coordinated their plans under his direction. G6es Monteiro was an extremely shrewd political opportunist rather than a revolutionary. He had served the government of President Washington Luis (1926-1930) loyally and faithfully and was partially responsible for the defeat and final retreat of the Prestes Column. The lieutenants were used in coordinating certain phases of the 1930 military operations, but they did not make policy. The most prominent of the revolutionary lieutenants of the 1920's, Luis Carlos Prestes, did not participate in the 1930 revolution, and he condemned it as a bourgeois revolt. The lieutenants were more important in