The Old Republic, 18911930

1
The Old Republic, 1891-1930

• Economic and Social Developments
• Politics in the Republic
• Coronelismo
• Coffee Valorization

2
Economic and Social Developments

• Population Growth
• 14.3 million in 1890 to 42 million by 1936
• 4 million foreign immigrants
• Rapid growth of urban centers
• Modest Industrial Growth
• Domination of Export Sector Coffee and Social
  Inequalities
• Foreign Investment and Foreign Dependency

3
Rural Poverty in Brazil
4
Politics in the Republic

• The Downfall of the Monarchy and the Instability
  of Military Rule
• The Federal Constitution of 1891
• Strong state governments in Sao Paulo, Minas
  Gerais, and Rio Grande do Sul
• Levy export taxes, grant land, maintain militias,
  attract immigrants
• Could not control foreign affairs
• Rotating Presidency

5
Coronelismo

• Suffrage Limited 1-4 and weak middle class
• Landowners dominate rural politics through
  political bosses Coronels
• Control police, patronage, contracts,
  transportation
• Fraud, intimidate, violence
• Patron-Client politics, not parties
• The Problem of Rotating Presidency

6
Coffee Valorization

• The Problem of Controlling Coffee Prices
• The 1906 Convention
• Secure British Loan
• National Government Buys Coffee Surpluses for
  resale when prices improve
• The Depression and the Downfall of the
  Valorization Scheme
• Vargas and the Coup of 1930

7
Getulio Vargas