Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Portugal experienced three main forces of protest and revolution in the twentieth century. First, the general population forced the king to abdicate in 1910. However, the first attempt to establish a republic failed rather quickly, and an authoritarian government took over in 1928. Second, following a long dictatorship of almost 50 years, the Portuguese led by a workers' movement toppled fascism with a massive populist revolution. Third, one of the largest sources of economic and political tension for Portugal in the late 1900s was the overseas colonies in Africa and Asia, which it formally retained longer than other major European imperialist states. The constant revolts in the colonies contributed to the coup d'état that deposed the dictatorship in 1974. Portugal began the twentieth century with a revolution that deposed its king in 1910 . In 1908, revolutionaries had killed King Carlos I and his son in Lisbon to put an end to the power of the abusive monarchy in the nation. The king's youngest son, Manuel II, took over the throne, but he was overthrown by revolutionary movements in 1910. The main drive to remove the king was a general feeling of economic stagnation, the deterioration of the infrastructure, and overall lack of opportunities in Portugal. The result was a new government in the form of a republic in which people could elect their leaders. However, the new political ... log in or subscribe to read full text