End of Vargas Era : Brazil

Vargas1 final years in office stood in marked contrast with the success of the previous period. The Vargas spark seemed to have faded and faced with a hostile Congress and active opposition par-ties, the former dictator was unable to control the economic and political forces of the country. Vargas tried to save his government with nationalistic measures, including the nationalization of petroleum exploration and production, but found himself continuously losing ground. A political crisissparked by an attempt on the life of one of Vargas’ main political opponents, allegedly planned by a Vargas aide, finally brought the Vargas era to an end. Given an ultimatum by the military either to resign or be overthrown, Vargas chose a third route and on August 24, 1954, committed suicide in the presidential palace.

Vargas’ removal from the political scene cleared the way for new faces to appear. The first to emerge came again from the twin poles of Brazilian 20th-century politics, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. Juscelino Kubitschek from Minas and Janio Quadras from Sao Paulo both used the same path to reach the presidency, first serving as mayors of their state capitals and then as governors. Populism, nationalism and military involvement, the three leading themes of modern Brazilian politics, all played a part in the careers of Kubitschek and Quadras. Two new factors, however, were added: the increasing linkage of economic growth with political developments and Brazil’s growing economic and political ties with the outside world.