A Primeira República e suas características – História – 9º ano – Ensino Fundamental

Summary

The First Brazilian Republic (1889-1930) was characterized by the dominance of oligarchies, primarily coffee producers, who controlled politics through mechanisms like coronelismo (vote manipulation) and the Política dos Governadores (exchange of political support between states). National politics was marked by the Política do Café-com-Leite, where São Paulo and Minas Gerais alternated power. Economically, the government ensured coffee prices remained high through valorization policies, while socially, inequality and unrest prevailed both in rural and urban areas. The period exemplified a government favoring the elite, sidelining the broader population and perpetuating exclusion and social inequality.

Takeaways

• 😀 The First Republic in Brazil started with a military coup in 1889 and ended with the 1930 revolution.
• 😀 A key feature of the First Republic was oligarchic control, where a small group, primarily coffee producers, dominated politics.
• 😀 The political system included practices like 'coronelismo,' where landowners controlled local votes through fraudulent means, known as 'voto de cabresto.'
• 😀 The 'Politica dos Governadores' was a system where state political groups supported federal representatives in exchange for local power and influence.
• 😀 The 'café-com-leite' policy involved a political rotation between São Paulo and Minas Gerais, with the two states alternating in holding the presidency.
• 😀 The oligarchic system helped perpetuate the dominance of coffee producers both politically and economically, particularly through export policies.
• 😀 The government used the 'politica de valorização do café' to regulate the coffee market by buying up coffee to reduce supply and raise prices.
• 😀 This period was marked by extreme social inequality, with significant unrest in rural areas, such as the Revoltas de Canudos and the Revolta do Contestado.
• 😀 In urban areas, inequality also increased, with the government often siding with the elite, such as in the 'bota-abaixo' policy in Rio de Janeiro that demolished poor housing without providing alternatives.
• 😀 The First Republic was defined by an elitist political structure that excluded broader societal participation, creating a history of social exclusion that continues to impact Brazil today.

Q & A

What was the main characteristic of the First Brazilian Republic, and how did it impact political control?

The main characteristic of the First Brazilian Republic was oligarchic control, where a small group of individuals, mainly coffee producers, dominated political decisions. This oligarchy controlled both local and national politics, ensuring that power remained concentrated within this elite group, which limited broader democratic participation.

What role did coffee producers play in the political structure of the First Brazilian Republic?

Coffee producers played a central role in the political structure of the First Brazilian Republic. They formed the oligarchy that controlled most of the political decisions, using their economic power to influence elections and government policies, ensuring that their interests were prioritized.

What was 'coronelismo,' and how did it function in local politics during this period?

'Coronelismo' was a form of political control where landowners, particularly coffee plantation owners, exercised significant power over local populations. They would often control votes through practices like 'voto de cabresto' (vote rigging), where they influenced or forced workers to vote for their chosen candidates.

What was the 'politics of the governors,' and how did it work at the state level?

The 'politics of the governors' involved a system where state-level political groups supported the election of federal legislators who, in turn, supported the president. In exchange, the president ensured that these groups maintained control over their respective states, creating a patronage system to maintain political power.

Can you explain the 'coffee-with-milk' policy and how it affected presidential elections?

The 'coffee-with-milk' policy was a political arrangement in which the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais alternated in supporting presidential candidates, creating a balance of power between these two states. This system ensured that the elites from both regions maintained control of the presidency, reinforcing the dominance of coffee producers in national politics.

What economic practices were put in place to support coffee production during this time?

Economic practices like the 'coffee valorization policy' were implemented to ensure that coffee producers remained profitable. The government would sometimes buy up surplus coffee to reduce supply, thereby increasing the price, which directly benefited the coffee oligarchy and ensured its dominance in both the political and economic spheres.

How did the economic policies of the First Brazilian Republic contribute to social inequality?

The economic policies of the First Brazilian Republic primarily favored the coffee oligarchy, reinforcing the dominance of agriculture for export. These policies deepened social inequality, as they ignored the needs of workers and marginalized groups, both in rural and urban areas, leading to widespread poverty and unequal access to resources.

What were some of the major social conflicts during the First Brazilian Republic, and what were their causes?

Major social conflicts like the Revolt of Canudos and the Revolt of the Contestado arose from the extreme poverty and inequality faced by the rural population. These uprisings were responses to the harsh living conditions, lack of social support, and the exploitative practices of the oligarchies that controlled both the economy and political structures.

How did urbanization during the First Brazilian Republic affect the working class?

Urbanization during the First Brazilian Republic led to the growth of cities, particularly São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but it also exacerbated inequality. While industrial growth occurred, the working class faced poor living conditions, overcrowded tenements, and a lack of social infrastructure. The government’s response, such as the 'bota-abaixo' program in Rio, often displaced these workers without offering them alternative housing.

How did the political and economic system of the First Republic contribute to Brazil's current social and political challenges?

The oligarchic nature of the First Republic, which excluded large sections of society from political and economic decision-making, laid the groundwork for persistent inequalities and political exclusion. This historical trajectory of elitism and exclusion has contributed to ongoing social and political challenges in Brazil, including deep divides between the wealthy elite and marginalized populations.