The Federalist Revolution took place in southern Brazil, between 1893 and 1895, and demonstrated the republicans' dissatisfaction with the directions taken by the first presidents of the Brazilian republic. There was a division among the republicans: one wing defended the decentralization of the power, with greater participation by the states, while another wing considered it necessary for the president to have more powers to consolidate the republic in Brazil. At the same time, there was the clash between army and navy soldiers regarding their participation in the federal government.
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![The Federalist Revolution was a conflict between federalists and republicans that took place in Rio Grande do Sul, between 1893 and 1895. [1]](/f/4c73d1e8652c89fb7f27f819e58f5fd2.jpg)
Causes of the Federalist Revolution
The Federalist Revolution exposed the conflicts involving the diverse groups that thought opposite paths for the nascent republic in Brazil. Since 1889, year of
Pclaim of rpublic, which discussed the centralization of power in the federal Executive or in the autonomy of the states. You Deodoro da Fonseca governments and Floriano Peixoto, both military, defended greater powers for the president of the republic, in the in order to consolidate the movement that deposed the monarchy, avoiding any reaction from groups opposites.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
The confrontation between these groups surpassed the discussions of ideas and materialized physically. Among the military there were divisions. The Navy rebelled, demanding greater participation in the government. The authoritarianism of the first presidents provoked armed reactions, as happened in Rio Grande do Sul. The appointment of Júlio Castilhos to the government of Rio Grande do Sul was a way of Floriano Peixoto impose its strength in the south of the country. The federalists, who wanted more participation from the states and the formation of a parliamentarism, did not accept the orders coming from Rio de Janeiro and took up arms as a form of reaction.
Leaders of the Federalist Revolution
The Federalist Revolution placed two groups that wanted different paths for the nascent Brazilian republic in opposing camps. Julio de Castilhos he was the leader of the republicans, also called chimangos, and defended a strong Executive, that is, that the president of the republic should have broad powers to consolidate the republic. castilhos was Floriano Peixoto's ally, second president of Brazil.
The other group was federalist, also called maragatos, and had Gaspar Silveira Martins as a leader. This group defended the decentralization of power and the implementation of parliamentarism, along the lines of second reign. This was a way to avoid the concentration of powers in the hands of the president and the formation of governments authoritarians, such as those of the first republicans: Deodoro da Fonseca (1889-1891) and Floriano Peixoto (1891-1894).
See too: Vice presidents who took over the government in Brazil
How was the conflict?
Júlio Castilhos was named president of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1892. He was an ally of President Floriano Peixoto and a supporter of the thesis that, in those early years of the republic, it was necessary for the Executive to have broad powers to govern. Choosing Castilhos displeased the federalists, who were quick to rebel against the appointment of the new governor of Rio Grande do Sul. The battles between the two groups were numerous. The maragatos won some battles, such as those in Lagoa Branca and Restinga da Jarraca.
These defeats made Castilho asked Floriano Peixoto for help, who promptly sentarmy troops, also called Loyalist troops, for combat. In addition to this help from the federal government, Castilhos created the state military brigade, with the initial objective of defeating the federalists. Even with the entire military force in the hands of the government of Rio Grande do Sul, the federalists managed to impose some defeats on the republicans.
If the government of Rio Grande do Sul reinforced its troops, the federalists were not far behind. The Navy, which, in 1893, organized the Armada Revolt, supported the federalists, mainly after the invasion of Santa Catarina and Paraná. Realizing the loss of soldiers and the consequences if the battle continued, the federalists retreated and continued the fight in Rio Grande do Sul.
The Federalist Revolution was marked by cruelty. Both sides in dispute beheaded their prisoners. This was a way of humiliating the opponent and saving ammunition for attacking the enemy.
How did the Federalist Revolution end?
Even after the end of the Floriano Peixoto government, the war continued. Prudent of Arrearsands, the first civilian president in our history, took power in 1894 and, in the following year, concluded an agreement between the conflicting groups, thus ending the Federalist Revolution. Júlio de Castilhos remained in power in Rio Grande do Sul, and the rebels were pardoned.
Consequences of the Federalist Revolution
The republic was consolidated in the Floriano Peixoto government. Opposing forces that questioned the executive's authoritarianism or sought to restore the monarchic model were harshly banned.
The army reformed its presence in the republic by actively participating in rebellions against the federal government. Even not being in the presidency, the military did not stray from politics. Movements initiated in the barracks against civil power began to be organized in the beginning of the 20th century.
Summary on the Federalist Revolution
- The Federalist Revolution was a conflict that took place in the south of the country between republicans and federalists.
- The federalists started the revolution by resisting the appointment of Júlio Castilhos as president of the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
- Alliance between federalists and the Armada Revolt.
- Castilhos had the military support of the Floriano Peixoto government.
- The revolution ended in 1895, when President Prudente de Morais sealed an agreement between the two parties.
Also access: Chibata Revolt – sailors' dissatisfaction against the injustices of the Navy
solved exercises
Question 1 - Tick the alternative that correctly contains the groups that participated in the Federalist Revolution:
A) Florianists and sertanists
B) Federalists and Republicans
C) Rags and Sabinos
D) Federalists and Sertanejos
Resolution
Alternative B. The Federalist Revolution was the conflict between federalists, contrary to the authoritarianism of the federal government and supporters of such parliamentarism. which in the monarchic period, and republicans, favorable to the concentration of powers in the hands of the president to consolidate the republic in the Brazil.
Question 2 - The Federalist Revolution was a conflict that took place in Rio de Janeiro and showed the clash between various groups in the early years of the republic in Brazil. About this historical fact, mark the alternative that correctly indicates the outcome of this conflict:
A) Júlio Castilhos was deposed, and Rio Grande do Sul separated from Brazil.
B) Floriano Peixoto transferred the government to the South, in order to help Castilhos fight the federalists.
C) The conflict ended in 1895, when President Prudente de Morais signed an agreement between the two parties.
D) Uruguay and Argentina sent troops to support Júlio de Castilhos in the fight against the federalists.
Resolution
Alternative C. The outcome of the Federalist Revolution was the agreement signed in the Prudente de Morais government between the two parties. Júlio Castilhos remained in power in Rio Grande do Sul, and the federalists were granted amnesty.
Image credit
[1] Architectural Hyacinth / commons
By Carlos César Higa
History teacher
