Stormbringer
The Brick and The Rose
The Second Revolution
By the end of 1903 it became clear that the economic program of Campos Sale has been ineffective and the conditions throughout the country have continued to deteriorate. While officially the liberal government in Rio de Janeiro held power, in reality locally organized Worker's Councils and Farmer's Councils of the Socialist Party held more sway.
The support of Germany for the liberal government has caused the Socialists to back off from an open revolution three years ago, but since then German help has done little good and has turned most of the population against the current government and its German supporters. With Italian troops being sent to Brazil to restore order in some of the most troublesome areas nationalist sentiment was again at an all-time high.
As the last efforts to revive the stalled economic program collapsed, the Socialist leader Afonso Pena called on Prime Minister Campos Sale to resign. Charging that the Sale government had no authority to govern since it was not brought in by an election, and that it had failed in every aspect of government, Pena asked his supporters to go to the streets and not leave until Sale resigned.
What followed were the largest riots Brazil has witnessed, with thousands of people on the streets. Often soldiers joined with workers and farmers in the demonstrations and riots and the country stood paralyzed. Following deadly clashes with police that killed over a hundred people in Rio de Janeiro Prime Minister Sale stepped down from his position.
Afonso Pena announced the dissolution of the republic and the establishment of a Socialist state right after, but Prudente Morais, the leader of the Conservative party announced that he is forming a government and taking the role of Prime Minister with Empress Isabel's consent. It is unclear whether subsequent riots were directed by the Socialists or whether they were spontaneous outgrowths of the riots that brought down the Sale government but violence spread throughout the country.
The Socialist party, fearing that violence would spin out of control, decided that time for a revolution was finally ripe. Organized groups of socialist militias attacked and occupied government buildings and police compounds in major cities and an order went out to Worker's and Farmer's Councils to assume the functions of local governments. With soldiers defecting from the military, the army was unable to restore order.
When the Morais government refused to recognize the legitimacy of the revolution Afonso Pena and his supporters led the newly formed Red Guards into Rio de Janeiro and were greeted by cheering crowds on the streets. Morais and his government escaped the city, fleeing to German-occupied Brazil, while Empress Isabel and former Emperor Pedro were arrested. Isabel was excited to Germany and Pedro executed in Rio de Janeiro two days later.
In its first action the new "Provisional Socialist Government" abolished land ownership and ratified the actions of thousands of peasants who had seized land from large landowners and redistributed it amongst themselves. The government then nationalized banks and all industry, confiscated private bank accounts and repudiated all foreign debts. Minimum wages were fixed immediately, eight hour work day instituted, and the control over all farms, banks, and industry given to the Worker's and Farmer's Councils.
A week after the revolution Afonso Pena sent out his first official envoys to other countries.
From Brazil
To the World
The Provisional Socialist Government of Brazil seeks the recognition of the international community and welcomes any support the international community can offer during this time of transition.
From Brazil
To Germany
The Provisional Socialist Government of Brazil hereby nullifies all previous agreements between Brazil and Germany, as those agreements were signed in the interest of the ruling class of Brazil and not the Brazilian people. We are ready to discuss with Germany the form the new relationship between Brazil and Germany should take.
By the end of 1903 it became clear that the economic program of Campos Sale has been ineffective and the conditions throughout the country have continued to deteriorate. While officially the liberal government in Rio de Janeiro held power, in reality locally organized Worker's Councils and Farmer's Councils of the Socialist Party held more sway.
The support of Germany for the liberal government has caused the Socialists to back off from an open revolution three years ago, but since then German help has done little good and has turned most of the population against the current government and its German supporters. With Italian troops being sent to Brazil to restore order in some of the most troublesome areas nationalist sentiment was again at an all-time high.
As the last efforts to revive the stalled economic program collapsed, the Socialist leader Afonso Pena called on Prime Minister Campos Sale to resign. Charging that the Sale government had no authority to govern since it was not brought in by an election, and that it had failed in every aspect of government, Pena asked his supporters to go to the streets and not leave until Sale resigned.
What followed were the largest riots Brazil has witnessed, with thousands of people on the streets. Often soldiers joined with workers and farmers in the demonstrations and riots and the country stood paralyzed. Following deadly clashes with police that killed over a hundred people in Rio de Janeiro Prime Minister Sale stepped down from his position.
Afonso Pena announced the dissolution of the republic and the establishment of a Socialist state right after, but Prudente Morais, the leader of the Conservative party announced that he is forming a government and taking the role of Prime Minister with Empress Isabel's consent. It is unclear whether subsequent riots were directed by the Socialists or whether they were spontaneous outgrowths of the riots that brought down the Sale government but violence spread throughout the country.
The Socialist party, fearing that violence would spin out of control, decided that time for a revolution was finally ripe. Organized groups of socialist militias attacked and occupied government buildings and police compounds in major cities and an order went out to Worker's and Farmer's Councils to assume the functions of local governments. With soldiers defecting from the military, the army was unable to restore order.
When the Morais government refused to recognize the legitimacy of the revolution Afonso Pena and his supporters led the newly formed Red Guards into Rio de Janeiro and were greeted by cheering crowds on the streets. Morais and his government escaped the city, fleeing to German-occupied Brazil, while Empress Isabel and former Emperor Pedro were arrested. Isabel was excited to Germany and Pedro executed in Rio de Janeiro two days later.
In its first action the new "Provisional Socialist Government" abolished land ownership and ratified the actions of thousands of peasants who had seized land from large landowners and redistributed it amongst themselves. The government then nationalized banks and all industry, confiscated private bank accounts and repudiated all foreign debts. Minimum wages were fixed immediately, eight hour work day instituted, and the control over all farms, banks, and industry given to the Worker's and Farmer's Councils.
A week after the revolution Afonso Pena sent out his first official envoys to other countries.
From Brazil
To the World
The Provisional Socialist Government of Brazil seeks the recognition of the international community and welcomes any support the international community can offer during this time of transition.
From Brazil
To Germany
The Provisional Socialist Government of Brazil hereby nullifies all previous agreements between Brazil and Germany, as those agreements were signed in the interest of the ruling class of Brazil and not the Brazilian people. We are ready to discuss with Germany the form the new relationship between Brazil and Germany should take.
