The Background to the Carnation Revolution in Portugal

Author:

José Matos and Zélia Oliveira

Report:

Newsletter 22

Year:

2024

Subject Matter:

Portuguese History

Excerpt:

On 25 April 1974, a movement of young captains brought down, with practically no resistance, the dictatorial regime that had been in power in Portugal for over 40 years. In the early hours of that day, a military movement unleashed a series of operations that, in less than 24 hours, defeated the forces loyal to the regime, neutralising any possibility of reaction. Few government forces resisted the insurgents, with the only resistance worthy of note coming from the political police who, in the heat of the revolution, opened fire on the surrounding crowd causing four deaths. In the streets of Lisbon, the people enthusiastically joined the military revolt and started offering food, drinks, and red carnations to the soldiers, who decided to stick them in the barrels of their rifles, making the revolt known as the Carnation Revolution. Although it began with a military coup d'état, the 25th of April eventually paved the way for democracy.

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