On April 4th, 1931, the Madeira uprising, also known as the Island Revolt, unfolded in Madeira. It was a military uprising against the government of the Ditadura Nacional (1926-1933).
Roots Of The Uprising
The roots of the uprising trace back to the "Revolta da Farinha" (Flour Revolt), a popular movement opposing the National Dictatorship. Economic hardships exacerbated by the Great Depression (1929) and the suspension of remittances from Brazil to Madeira prompted discontent. Government measures to centralize cereal imports led to flour shortages and bread price increases, worsening the situation. Madeira, already grappling with economic crises and unemployment, witnessed strikes and unrest, which were exploited by various political factions.
The Uprising
On Madeira, deported military personnel and civilian politicians, including General Sousa Dias, opposed the regime. Unlike in the Azores, where rebellious military forces surrendered without popular support, the Madeira rebels garnered backing from the people. The uprising started on April 4th, 1931 in Madeira and persisted until May 2nd, after a military expedition from the mainland arrived a few days earlier in Caniçal, engaging in seven days of combat with the rebels.
The revolution was eventually unsuccessful, due to a shortage of weaponry and the regime's resolute efforts to fight the uprising, aiming to prevent foreign military intervention. General Sousa Dias and many other rebel soldiers were sent to Cape Verde.
Madeira Uprising's Initial Triumph
The Madeira Revolutionary Military was able to form a provisional government with General Sousa Dias taking over executive and legislative power. The Junta took some initial steps, like canceling a decree about hunger, granting loans to the embroidery industry, stopping speculation on important goods, and getting defenses ready.
In 1977, Sousa Dias, evoked as «one of the greatest figures of the resistance» and an «example of the highest moral virtues», would be reinstated posthumously, by Decree-Law No. 232/77, in his post of General, with all the inherent honors and the right to decorations and honorary degrees that he possessed.
Historical Significance Of The Revolt
The Madeira uprising stands as an early effort to defend democracy and the population against dictatorship. It holds historical significance for the collective identity and cultural heritage of the island.
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