Institutional Act No. 1 is read over the radio. The first of five major decrees by the military government granted many “temporary” powers, such as removing elected officials and civil servants from their positions and punishing subversives, to the executive branch. Courtesy of the Brazilian National Archive.

The military dictatorship’s rise to power in 1965 would prove to be a very ominous event for Brazilian society. The dictatorship, which established itself as a stabilizing force, quickly grew repressive. Within the first few years of rule, the dictatorship had implemented severe Institutional Acts curtailing the civil liberties of Brazilians. University professors, intellectuals, and cultural creators such as singers and artists became the target of many dictatorial reforms, forcing many into exile. Many who resisted the dictatorship were tortured, sequestered, or killed. Brazilian society did not quietly submit, however, and during this time period there were myriad social, political, and cultural backlashes. Economically the dictatorship proved to be harder to pin down. Many of the reforms it implemented caused a great deal of growth during this time period, leading to what was called the “Brazilian Miracle.”