State Rebellion Day – July 9, 2024

History of State Rebellion Day

After the slaying of four protesting students by government troops on May 23, 1932, the state fight for revolution began on July 9, 1932. Following their killings, a movement known as M.M.D.C. arose, named after the initials of each of the four students killed: Martins, Miragaia, Dráusio, and Camargo. Alvarenga, a fifth victim, was also shot that night but died months later. It took a few months for the state of São Paulo to defy the federal authorities. The politicians in São Paulo expected a swift fight as a result of the assurance given to them by the elites of politics from two other influential states in the area, namely Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais, but their camaraderie never translated into actual backing. This caused the insurrection in São Paulo to be put down by the military on October 2, 1932.

There were 87 days of warfare in total, with 934 official deaths and an estimated 2,200 non-official deaths. Despite the military setback, Vargas finally accepted several of the primary objectives of the state revolutionary movement, including the appointment of a non-military state governor, a new election of the Constituent Assembly, and the ratification of a new constitution in 1934.

However, the constitution was short-lived, as Vargas closed the National Congress in 1937, amidst rising political radicalism, and approved a new constitution, establishing the Estado Novo administration. July 9 is a holiday and the most important civic day in the state of São Paulo, as it commemorates the start of the 1932 revolution. It was the first significant uprising against Getúlio Vargas’ regime and the last major armed battle in Brazilian history.