Might this bust speak if it could? This is the Getúlio Vargas Bust. It represents a man who shaped Brazil. Getúlio Vargas was born on April 19 1882 in São Borja. He died on August 24 1954 in Rio de Janeiro. Vargas served as president of Brazil for two separate terms. His first term was from 1930 to 1945. His second term lasted from 1951 to 1954.
Vargas brought social and economic changes. These changes helped modernize Brazil. Some people denounced him as a dictator. However Vargas was revered by his followers. They called him the Father of the Poor. This was for his battle against big business and large landowners. Vargas guided Brazil. He helped it weather the Great Depression. He also navigated the polarization between communism and fascism. This was during his long time in office.
Vargas came from Rio Grande do Sul. His family was prominent in state politics. He joined the army at 16. He soon decided to study law. In 1908 he entered politics. This was after graduating from law school. By 1922 he had risen quickly. He was elected to the National Congress. In 1926 Vargas became minister of finance. He served under President Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa. In 1928 he was elected governor of Rio Grande do Sul. In 1930 Vargas ran unsuccessfully for president. He ran as a reform candidate. He appeared to accept defeat. However in October he led a revolution. His friends organized it. It overthrew the republic.
For 15 years Vargas assumed dictatorial powers. He ruled without a congress. From 1930 to 1934 he held sole power. He was provisional president. Later he was elected president. This was by the assembly. In 1932 he survived a revolt. It was led by São Paulo. In 1935 he survived a communist revolution. In 1937 Vargas led a coup. It set aside the government. It set up the Estado Novo. This was a populist authoritarian state. In 1938 he resisted an attempt to overthrow his government. He did this with his family and staff. Brazilian fascists tried to overthrow him.
Before 1930 the government was a federation. Autonomous states were dominated by rural landholders. They were financed by agricultural exports. Vargas destroyed this system. The tax structure was revised. State and local administrations depended on the central authority. The electorate was quadrupled. People were granted the secret ballot. Women were allowed to vote. Extensive educational reforms were introduced. Social security laws were enacted. Labor was organized. It was controlled by the government. Workers were assured benefits. These included a minimum wage. Business was stimulated. This was by rapid industrialization. Vargas did not change the private enterprise system. His social reforms did not extend to the rural poor.
In 1945 Vargas was overthrown by a coup. This happened during a wave of democratic sentiment. It swept postwar Brazil. He still retained popular support. He was elected senator from Rio Grande do Sul in 1945. He went into semiretirement. In 1950 he emerged as a presidential candidate. He represented the Brazilian Labour Party. He won. He took office in 1951.
As president he was restrained by congress. There were many parties. Public opinion also restrained him. Vargas could not satisfy his followers. Nor could he placate middle-class opposition. He resorted to appeals. These were ultranationalistic. He hoped to hold popular support. He incurred the U.S. government’s animosity. They encouraged opposition from his enemies. By 1954 criticism was widespread. The armed forces called for Vargas’s withdrawal. They were shocked by scandals. Rather than accept retirement Vargas took his life. He did this on August 24 1954. His death led to mass support. This allowed his followers to return to power.