The 25th of April and the building of democracy — History, 11–13
How the dictatorship fell in 1974 and how democracy was built up to 1982. History, 11–13 years.
A revolution with carnations
In the early hours of 25 April 1974, young officers of the Armed Forces Movement overthrew the Estado Novo. The signals to start were two songs on the radio, the second being “Grândola, Vila Morena”. Within hours, thousands of people took to the streets and offered carnations to the soldiers. There was almost no violence, which is why it became known as the Carnation Revolution.
Why it happened, and what changed
The military were tired of a war without end, and many people were fed up with the lack of freedom, poverty and emigration. With the revolution, censorship and the political police ended, parties and trade unions were legalised, and the colonies became independent countries. Hundreds of thousands of people then returned from Africa to Portugal.
A case: from revolution to democracy
Step 1: on 25 April 1974 the dictatorship falls. Step 2: on 25 April 1975 the Portuguese vote for the first time in free elections, for an Assembly that writes the constitution. Step 3: in 1976 the democratic Constitution is approved. Step 4: in 1982 a revision of the Constitution ends the military's power in politics, and democracy is consolidated.
The trap: thinking democracy was born in a single day
The 25th of April overthrew the dictatorship, but democracy took time to build. Between 1974 and 1976 there were months of great tension, with strikes, occupations and very different plans for the country. There were coup attempts, and only after new elections, a constitution and a revision in 1982 did power pass fully to the elected institutions.
Where you can still see this today
25 April is a national holiday, Freedom Day, and every year there are parades with red carnations. Today you can read free newspapers, criticise the government and vote from the age of 18. In 1986, already a democracy, Portugal joined the European Communities, today the European Union.
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