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Authority and Change |
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In 1934, after the Vargas regime had been consolidated, a new constitution was introduced which greatly widened the
franchise and gave the vote to women. in late 1937, shortly before the presidential elections were due, the heated political
atmosphere and disruptive activities led President Vargas to declare a state of emergency. Vargas followed up his
declaration by dissolving Congress and assuming extraordinary powers to govern by decree under an authoritarian charter. However
difficult the times, some important policies were adopted then which included the introduction of advanced social welfare legislation,
a reform of the educational system, and substantial progress in industrialisation, including the construction of Brazil's first big steel
mill (1942-1946).
When World War II started, the Vargas government could not ignore the spontaneous preference of the majority of Brazilians for the
Allies. Popular sentiment, further inflamed by the hostile actions of German U-boats off the Brazilian coast, forced the President to
abandon a neutral stance. In August, 1942, Vargas declared war on the Axis powers. Brazil equipped a 25,000-man strong
Expeditionary Force which, attached to the U.S. Fifth Army, fought in Italy. Brazil was the only American country, besides the U.S.
and Canada, to send armed forces to the European theater of war.
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