Questions about the Military Dictatorship

The Military Dictatorship was a period of authoritarian rule in Brazil that lasted from 1964 to 1985.

Due to its political and economic importance, it is one of the most demanded subjects in Enem and entrance exams across the country.

That's why we've selected 15 questions that address various moments and aspects of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil for you to review the content and rock your test!

Good study!

Question 1

(Unisc/2014) In 2014 it will be 50 years since the coup that overthrew the government of João Goulart and installed the Military Regime in Brazil. The Dictatorship remained for more than twenty years not allowing free elections for president and controlling very closely the unions, social movements and other groups that questioned the lack of democracy and the truculence of the Regime through the apparatus of repression.

About this period it is INCORRECT to state that

a) the multiparty system was extinguished in Institutional Act n. 2 which allowed only two parties – ARENA and MDB.
b) Institutional Act no. 5 further limited political rights in Brazil by impeaching politicians considered by the Regime as subversive.
c) censorship was imposed shortly after the Military Coup and had the National Information Service (SNI) as its most active organ.
d) pro-military regime propaganda used slogans like Brazil – love it or leave it.
e) the last military president, Costa e Silva, promised a slow and gradual political opening to democracy.

Correct alternative:e) the last military president, Costa e Silva, promised a slow and gradual political opening to democracy.

Alternative "e)" is incorrect because Costa e Silva was not the last president of the military regime. After his term in office, three more generals would pass through the Executive Branch.

Question 2

(Unitau/2018) In the header of Jornal do Brasil, on December 14, 1968, it was written:“Black time. Stifling temperature. The air is unbreathable. The country is being swept by strong winds. Max:38º in Brasília, Min:5º, in Laranjeiras.”

What fact does this text refer to?

a) Approval of Institutional Act No. 5, which drastically limited freedom of expression and instituted measures that increased repression of opponents of the military government.
b) Approval of Institutional Act nº 2, approved by the National Congress, which increased the fear of communist danger.
c) Approval of the Federative Censorship Law, of Institutional Act nº 1, which prohibited films, plays, books, music, but which did not reach the newspaper and, therefore, the criticism was published on the front page.
d) Approval of institutional acts, which had great support from the country's political classes, expanding various individual guarantees and granting broad powers to the President of the Republic.
e) Approval of bipartisanship, through Institutional Act nº 1, which eliminated all forms of institutional opposition to the military regime.

Correct alternative:a) Approval of Institutional Act nº 5, which drastically limited freedom of expression and instituted measures that increased repression of opponents of the military government.

The AI-5 was approved in 1968 and triggered a more severe repression of civil society by the government.

The other options are not correct because they mention laws that were enacted before 1968.

Question 3

(UPE/2013) The Brazilian Military Regime (1964-1988) was marked by a bipolarization in the field of politics and art, between those who supported and those who criticized the regime.

Within the second group, the musicians who produced protest songs stood out, some of which were wrapped in metaphors, in addition to other stylistic resources, in order to hide their subliminal message from Censorship.

Among these songs, one can identify the “Song of the farewell”, by Geraldo Vandré in the following excerpt:

"I'm leaving now, but I know I'll come back / Love doesn't cry, if I come back it's to stay / Love doesn't cry, it's time to leave / The love of now, forever it stays. // I wanted to stay here, but I couldn't / My path to you, didn't lead / An ill-crowned king, / I didn't want / Love in his reign / For I knew / I wouldn't be loved... ”

Based on the criticism portrayed by the lyrics, it is CORRECT to state that

a) in the field of art, criticism of this Regime was restricted to the musical sphere.
b) that period seemed like a fairy tale, with stories of kings and impossible loves.
c) the difficult experience of forced exile was experienced during the period.
d) Geraldo Vandré used to set his heartbreaks to music.
e) the tranquility experienced by society allowed the composition of love songs.

Correct alternative:c) the difficult experience of forced exile was lived during the period.

The song talks about goodbyes, something that happened to those who went into exile voluntarily or forced to.

The other options are not correct. All other forms of art, from dramaturgy to fine art, were also critical of the government. The other alternatives appeal to fanciful facts to describe the period and are incorrect.

Question 4

(Enem/2010)

Institutional Act No. 5

Art. 10 - The guarantee of habeas corpus is suspended, in cases of political crimes, against national security, the economic and social order and the popular economy.

Art. 11 – All acts performed in accordance with this Institutional Act and its Complementary Acts, as well as their respective effects, are excluded from any judicial review.

_{Available at:http://www.senado.gov.br. Accessed on:29 Jul. 2010.}

In the selected AI-5 articles, the military government sought to limit the role of the judiciary, because that meant

a) the replacement of the 1967 Constitution
b) the beginning of the process of political distension
c) the legal guarantee for the authoritarianism of judges
d) the expansion of powers in the hands of the Executive
e) the revocation of the legal instruments implemented during the military regime of 1964

Correct alternative:d) the expansion of powers in the hands of the Executive.

The AI-5 represented "the coup within the coup", because the Executive Branch expanded its influence, instituting censorship and attributing functions specific to the Judiciary.

Alternative a) "replacement of the 1967 Constitution" is incorrect as AI-5 was not intended to replace the Constitution. Alternative b) "the beginning of the process of political detente" is false, as detente would only be carried out at the end of the Geisel administration.

Option c) "the legal guarantee for the authoritarianism of judges" does not express the reality because, in fact, AI-5 removed power from the judges. Alternative e) "the revocation of the legal instruments implemented during the 1964 military regime" is also not certain, because this fact did not happen.

Question 5

(Unimontes/2015) “During the Medici government, the armed struggle was crushed.” Among the examples that prove this statement, it is INCORRECT to list:

a) The shooting of communist militant Carlos Mariguella, in November 1969, in São Paulo.
b) The persecution and murder of the guerrilla militant Carlos Lamarca, in the backlands of Bahia.
c) The combat and dismantling of the Guerrilha do Araguaia, in the State of Pará, between 1970 and 1974.
d) The dismantling, in 1971, of the communist cell Vanguarda Negra, whose leaders were Uspinians.

Correct alternative:d) The dismantling, in 1971, of the communist cell Vanguarda Negra, whose leaders were Uspinians.

This option is incorrect because there was no communist cell called the Black Vanguard.

Question 6

(UFMG) The Distension Policy, carried out by General Ernesto Geisel, aimed at

a) calm the political tension between the Government and the Opposition.
b) expand the Government's support base with the Armed Forces.
c) annul the political actions of his predecessor, General Medici.
d) guarantee the survival of the Economic Miracle.
e) resume strategic decisions defined by the Military Junta.

Correct alternative:a) to calm the political tension between the Government and the Opposition.

Ernesto Geisel ushered in a new era within the military regime. As the urban and rural guerrilla movement had already been crushed, Geisel began to promote policies that would guarantee an orderly exit of the military from the political scene. In this way he aimed to please both the military sectors and the opposition.

The other options are not correct. They refer to facts that are not realistic, such as the survival of the Economic Miracle and the annulment of the Medici government's policies.

Question 7

(Enem/2014) The National Truth Commission (CNV) brought together representatives of state commissions and various institutions to present a balance of the work done and sign cooperation terms with four organizations. The coordinator of the CNV estimates that, to date, the commission has examined, "underneath", about 30 million pages of documents and carried out hundreds of interviews.
_{Available at:www.jb.com.br. Access on:2 Mar. 2013 (adapted).}

The article describes a State initiative that resulted from the action of several social movements in Brazil in the face of events that took place between 1964 and 1988. The objective of this initiative is

a) annul the amnesty granted to military leaders.
b) review the judicial convictions of political prisoners.
c) pardon the crimes attributed to leftist militants.
d) prove society's support for the anti-communist coup plotters.
e) clarify the circumstances of human rights violations.

Correct alternative:e) clarify the circumstances of human rights violations.

The National Truth Commission (CNV) aimed to investigate those who disappeared during the military regime.

The other options are incorrect, as the CNV never intended to review leftist convictions, annul amnesty or pardon crimes attributed to leftist militants.

Question 8

(FURG/2006) The "Diretas-Já" Campaign was a remarkable episode that took place in the 1980s, constituting one of the significant moments of the Brazilian historical process known as:

a) republicanization
b) coalition
c) redemocratization
d) militarization
e) conciliation

Correct alternative:c) redemocratization.

The campaign for Diretas-Já aimed at direct and free elections for the presidency of the Republic. Despite all the campaigning on the streets, the amendment was rejected and the new Head of Government was chosen indirectly.

The other alternatives are not correct. Option a) "republicanization" is not true, as Brazil was already a Republic. Option b) "coalition" makes no sense, because there is no movement with that name in this period.

Alternative d) "militarization" is wrong, because it was the opposite movement to militarism. As well as alternative e) "conciliation", which portrays something that did not happen at the end of the Brazilian military dictatorship.

Question 9

(Fuvest) Brazil's victory in the 1970 World Cup

a) it had no repercussion in the political field, as it was a strictly sporting event.
b) encouraged the work of oppositions that highlighted the capacity of the Brazilian people to perform great feats.
c) propitiated a propaganda operation of the Medici government, trying to associate the conquest with the authoritarian regime.
d) favored General Geisel's opening project, by creating a climate of optimism for the government's achievements.
e) achieved very limited repercussions, as the media were not as effective as they are today.

Correct alternative:c) propitiated a propaganda operation by the Medici government, trying to associate the conquest with the authoritarian regime.

The victory of the men's soccer team ended up becoming a source of propaganda for the Medici government, which compared the achievements achieved with the government's actions.

The other options are not correct, as they do not correspond to reality at that moment, such as letter a) or e).

Question 10

(ESPM/2014) In authoritarian Brazil, evident signs of crisis. General Figueiredo's presidential term was coming to an end and there were fears that once again the president would be chosen by an electoral college, which should, as always, endorse the name indicated by those in power.

To change this perspective, the opposition presented a constitutional amendment that intended to introduce direct elections. The Dante de Oliveira amendment, named after the PMDB deputy from Mato Grosso, who presented it, was voted on under great popular expectation, after widespread popular mobilization in the DIRETAS - JÁ campaign.

The decision of the National Congress, when voting (25/04/1984) in the Chamber of Deputies was:

a) rejection, as the amendment needed 2/3 of the members of Congress and 22 votes were missing to reach that mark.
b) approval, a result that guaranteed the victory of Tancredo Neves, the opposition candidate, in the direct elections for the presidency in 1985.
c) approval, however the direct election for president would not be valid for the 1985 election and would only be valid in the following election.
d) approval, however the intervention of the Armed Forces prevented the holding of the election.
e) rejection, with the interference of the Armed Forces imposing the election of José Sarney, government candidate.

Correct alternative:a) rejection, because the amendment needed 2/3 of the members of Congress and 22 votes were missing to reach that mark.

Despite all popular mobilization, the Dante Oliveira amendment was rejected by Congress in a close vote. Thus, we can discard alternatives b), c) and d), as these affirm that the law would have been approved.

On the other hand, alternative e) "rejection, with the interference of the Armed Forces imposing the election of José Sarney, the government's candidate", is not correct. The Armed Forces did not directly interfere in the vote and the one chosen was Tancredo Neves with Sarney as vice.

Question 11

[Politician] Francisco Dornelles watched on television in France the Central do Brasil rally on March 13, 1964. Jango decreed the nationalization of oil refineries, the freezing of rent prices and the expropriation of land on the banks of federal highways for agrarian reform. “The communist revolution in Brazil started today,” said a colleague of Dornelles, a member of the Communist Party in Bulgaria. “He announced things that, in Bulgaria, it took us years to achieve. The adversaries will finish him off.”

_{13 Questions about Dictatorship in Brazil, Adapted from Época Magazine, 03/31/2014. Consulted on 07.17.20.}

As we can read in the text, what would be the main reason for the military to have carried out the coup in 1964?

a) The fear of a communist revolution in Brazil, within the context of the Cold War, which united right-wing, military and American politicians.
b) The fear of a military invasion in Brazil by countries from the Eastern European bloc such as Bulgaria.
c) Jango's foreign policy, which favored south-south relations to the detriment of exchanges with the so-called developed countries.
d) The interference of the Soviet Union in Brazilian internal affairs that scared the nationalist sectors.

Correct alternative:a) The fear of a communist revolution in Brazil, within the context of the Cold War, which united right-wing, military and American politicians.

As we can read from the text, by announcing the basic reforms, Jango would arouse fear among the elite in carrying out a communist revolution. The Bulgarian colleague's remark was prophetic, because that's exactly what happened.

Question 12

Although much is said about the “Economic Miracle”, it only lasted six or seven years, in a period of 21. The foreign debt was multiplied by 30, but major infrastructure works were built under the military.

_{13 Questions about Dictatorship in Brazil, Adapted from Época Magazine, 03/31/2014. Consulted on 07.17.20.}

What infrastructure work was built during the military dictatorship?

a) National Library (RJ)
b) Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant (PA)
c) Rio-Niterói Bridge (RJ)
d) The Tubarão Railway (SC)

Correct alternative:c) Rio-Niterói Bridge (RJ)

The Rio-Niterói bridge, officially the Presidente Costa e Silva bridge, was built from 1969 to 1974, during the military dictatorship.

The national library was established in 1810, the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant was inaugurated in 2016 and the Tubarão railway in 1884.

Question 13

Read the text below:

“We Chileans, like all the peoples of the West, are fighting the dictatorships of the 'isms' and the foreign agents that threaten our country. We must fight them with all our strength, having as our main weapon the cooperation between the police of all America.”

_{The Nightmare of Operation Condor, Pierre Abramovici, May 1, 2001. Le Monde Diplomatique. Consulted on 07.17.20.}

Operation Condor consisted of :

a) Political coordination of Latin American military dictatorships to promote development in their countries.
b) In the interference of the United States in the internal politics of the nations of Latin America that were under military regime.
c) In the exchange of information about opposition movements and even the kidnapping of people considered subversive in the Southern Cone countries.
d) An attempt by Chileans to dominate South America during the military mandate of General Augusto Pinochet.

Correct alternative:c) In the exchange of information about opposition movements and even the kidnapping of people considered subversive in the Southern Cone countries.

The police of the Southern Cone countries - Argentina, Brazil and Chile - established an information network among themselves in order to exchange data and capture people who were accused of crimes in their respective countries. Paraguay and Bolivia also collaborated in Operation Condor.

Question 14

"The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) in São Paulo reported today (17) that it had denounced to justice six people accused of the death of journalist Vladimir Herzog, which occurred in 1975, during the period of the military regime. (...) In October 1975, Herzog was found dead at the facilities of the Information Operations Detachment (DOI/Codi) after being arrested by the military while spontaneously presenting himself."

_{MPF denounces six for the death of journalist Vladimir Herzog, published on 03/17/2020. André Richter, Agência Brasil. Consulted on 07.17.20.}

The death of Vladimir Herzog unleashed a wave of protests in the middle of the military dictatorship. Tick ​​the INCORRECT alternative about the events that followed after his death:

a) The union of journalists in São Paulo formally asked for an investigation of the facts.
b) An ecumenical act in the Cathedral of São Paulo that brought together thousands of people.
c) Rabbi Henry Sobel's refusal to bury him in the suicide wing of the Jewish cemetery, contrary to the official police report.
d) The dismissal of the police officers who guarded the arrest of Vladimir Herzog.

Correct alternative:d) The dismissal of the police officers who guarded the arrest of Vladimir Herzog.

Despite popular and religious mobilization, the police officers who were responsible for the surveillance of the journalist in prison were not punished in any way.

Question 15

In 1974, singer Elis Regina recorded the song “O Mestre-sala dos Mares”, whose original title was “O Almirante Negro”, by the duo of composers João Bosco and Aldir Blanc. However, the road to the release of the song was long because:

a) The first version used inappropriate terms according to the prevailing morality at the time.
b) Both composers were targeted by the dictatorship for their involvement with the Communist party.
c) Censorship did not release the lyrics, as it used terms such as “admiral” and “sailor”, which were considered inappropriate.
d) The censors implied that a black man was honored by two exponents of Brazilian Popular Music (MPB).

Correct alternative:c) The current censorship did not release the lyrics, as it used terms such as “admiral” and “sailor”, which were considered inappropriate.

Censors at the time asked that the terms "admiral" and "sailor" be dropped, as they referred to the Armed Forces. So, they replaced it with "navigator" and "sorcerer", respectively to circumvent censorship.

Want to know more about the Military Dictatorship? Consult these texts and continue your studies :

• Guerrilha do Araguaia
• Constitution of 1967
• Operation Condor
• Questions about social movements
• Questions about socialism
• Globalization Issues
• Questions about the Industrial Revolution
• History Questions in Enem
• Questions about the First World War
• Questions about World War II
• Brazilian History Questions in Enem