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 in the whole country.
Therefore, we 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 deposed 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 brutality of the regime through the apparatus of repression.
About this period it is INCORRECT to state that
a) pluripartisanship was extinguished in Institutional Act no. 2 that allowed only two parties – ARENA and MDB.
b) Institutional Act no. 5 further limited political rights in Brazil by removing 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 body.
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.
Answer
Correct alternative: e) the last military president, Costa e Silva, promised a slow and gradual political opening to democracy.
The alternative “e)” is incorrect because Costa e Silva was not the last president of the military regime. After his tenure, three more generals would pass through the Executive Branch.
Question 2
(Unitau / 2018) The headline of Jornal do Brasil, on December 14, 1968, was written: “Tempo negro. Stifling temperature. The air is unbreathable. The country is being swept away by strong winds. Max: 38º in Brasília, Min: 5º in Laranjeiras ”.
Which fact does this text refer to?
a) Approval of Institutional Act No. 5, which drastically limited freedom of expression and instituted measures that increased the repression against 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 prevented 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.
Answer
Correct alternative: a) Approval of Institutional Act No. 5, which drastically limited freedom of expression and instituted measures that increased the repression against opponents of the military government.
AI-5 was approved in 1968 and triggered a more severe crackdown on 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 realm 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, as well as other stylistic resources, in order to hide their subliminal message from the Censorship.
Among these songs, we can identify Geraldo Vandré’s “Canção da dismissida” in the following excerpt:
“I’m leaving, but I know that I will come back / Love doesn’t cry, if I come back it is to stay / Love doesn’t cry, that it’s time to leave / The love of now, forever be it.// I wanted to stay here, but I couldn’t / My way to you, it didn’t lead / A badly crowned king, / I didn’t want / Love in his reign / He knew / He wouldn’t be loved … ”
Based on the criticism portrayed by the lyrics, it is CORRECT to say that
a) in the scope of art, the 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 music his amorous disappointments.
e) the tranquility experienced by society allowed the composition of love songs.
Answer
Correct alternative: c) the difficult experience of forced exile was experienced during the period.
The song speaks of farewells, something that happened to those who went into exile voluntarily or forced.
The other options are not correct. All other art forms, from dramaturgy to fine art, also criticized the government. The rest of the 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, in cases of political crimes, against national security, the economic and social order and the popular economy is suspended.
Art. 11 – All acts performed in accordance with this Institutional Act and its Complementary Acts, as well as the 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 political distension process
c) the legal guarantee for the authoritarianism of the judges
d) the expansion of powers in the hands of the Executive
e) the revocation of the legal instruments implanted during the military regime of 1964
Answer
Correct alternative: d) the expansion of powers in the hands of the Executive.
AI-5 represented “the coup within the coup”, because the Executive Branch expanded its influence, instituting censorship and assigning its own functions to the Judiciary Branch.
Alternative a) “the replacement of the 1967 Constitution” is incorrect, as the AI-5 had no intention of replacing the Constitution. Alternative b) “the beginning of the political distension process” is false, since the distension would only be carried out at the end of the Geisel government.
Option c) “the legal guarantee for the authoritarianism of the judges” does not express the reality because, in fact, AI-5 removed power from the judges. The alternative e) “the revocation of the legal instruments implemented during the military regime of 1964” is also not certain, because this fact did not happen.
Question 5
(Unimontes / 2015) “During the Médici government, armed struggle was crushed.” Among the examples that prove this statement, it is INCORRECT to list:
a) The shooting of the communist militant Carlos Mariguella, in November 1969, in São Paulo.
b) The persecution and murder of the militant guerrilla Carlos Lamarca, in the hinterland of Bahia.
c) The combat and dismantling of the Guerrilha do Araguaia, in the State of Pará, between 1970 and 1974.
d) The disarticulation, in 1971, of the communist cell Vanguarda Negra, whose leaders were Uspinianos.
Answer
Correct alternative: d) The dismantling, in 1971, of the communist cell Vanguarda Negra, whose leaders were Uspinianos.
This option is incorrect because there was no communist cell called Vanguarda Negra.
Question 6
(UFMG) The Distension Policy, carried out by General Ernesto Geisel, aimed at
a) calm the political tension between Government and Opposition.
b) expand the Government’s support base with the Armed Forces.
c) annul the political actions of his predecessor, General Médici.
d) guarantee the survival of the Economic Miracle.
e) resume strategic decisions defined by the Military Board.
Answer
Correct alternative: a) to calm the political tension between Government and 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 for the military from the political scene. In this way it 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 to annul the policies of the Médici government.
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 terms of cooperation with four organizations. The CNV coordinator estimates that, so far, the commission has examined, from below, about 30 million pages of documents and conducted hundreds of interviews.
Available at: www.jb.com.br. Accessed on: 2 mar. 2013 (adapted).
The news 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 to
a) annul the amnesty granted to military chiefs.
b) review the judicial convictions for political prisoners.
c) to forgive the crimes attributed to the leftist militants.
d) prove the society’s support for anti-communist scammers.
e) clarify the circumstances of human rights violations.
Answer
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 the amnesty or pardon the crimes attributed to leftist militants.
Question 8
(FURG / 2006) The “Diretas-Já” campaign was a remarkable episode that occurred 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
Answer
Correct alternative: c) redemocratization.
The campaign for Diretas-Já was aimed at direct and free elections for the presidency of the Republic. Despite every campaign 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” does not make sense, because there is no movement with this name in this period.
Alternative d) “militarization” is wrong, because it was the opposite movement to militarism. As well as the alternative e) “conciliation”, which portrays something that did not happen at the end of the Brazilian military dictatorship.
Question 9
(Fuvest) Brazil’s victory at the 1970 World Cup
a) it had no repercussions in the political field, as it is a strictly sporting event.
b) encouraged the work of the oppositions that highlighted the capacity of the Brazilian people to perform great feats.
c) led to a propaganda operation by the Médici government, trying to associate the conquest with the authoritarian regime.
d) favored General Geisel’s opening project, creating an atmosphere of optimism for the government’s achievements.
e) achieved very limited repercussions, since the media did not have the efficiency they have today.
Answer
Correct alternative: c) it promoted a propaganda operation by the Médici government, trying to associate the conquest with the authoritarian regime.
The victory of the male soccer team ended up becoming a source of propaganda for the Médici government, which compared the achievements achieved with the performance of the government.
The other options are not correct, as they do not correspond to the reality at that moment, such as the letter a) or a e).
Question 10
(ESPM / 2014) In Brazil, authoritarian, evident signs of crisis. General Figueiredo’s presidential term was drawing to a close and it was feared 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 amendment Dante de Oliveira, named by the deputy of the PMDB, by Mato Grosso, who presented it was voted under great popular expectation, after widespread popular mobilization in the DIRETAS – JÁ campaign.
The decision of the National Congress, when the vote (04/25/1984) in the Chamber of Deputies was:
a) rejection, since the amendment required 2/3 of the members of Congress and there were 22 votes left to reach that mark.
b) approval, a result that guaranteed the victory of Tancredo Neves, candidate of the opposition, in the direct presidential elections 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 election Following.
d) approval, however the intervention of the Armed Forces prevented the election from taking place.
e) rejection, with the interference of the Armed Forces imposing the election of José Sarney, a government candidate.
Answer
Correct alternative: a) rejection, as the amendment required 2/3 of the members of Congress and there were 22 votes left to reach that mark.
Despite all popular mobilization, the Dante Oliveira amendment was rejected by Congress in a tight vote. Thus we can discard alternatives b), c) and d), as they state that the law would have been passed.
For its part, the alternative e) “rejection, with the interference of the Armed Forces having imposed the election of José Sarney, a government candidate”, is not correct. The Armed Forces did not directly interfere in the vote and Tancredo Neves was chosen as the deputy.
Question 11
[The politician] Francisco Dornelles watched on television, in France, the rally at Central do Brasil, on March 13, 1964. Jango decreed the nationalization of oil refineries, the freezing of rental prices and the expropriation of land on the margins of federal highways for land reform. “The communist revolution in Brazil started today,” said a colleague from Dornelles, a member of the Communist Party in Bulgaria. “He announced things that, in Bulgaria, it took us years to achieve. The opponents will finish him off. ”
13 Questions about the Dictatorship in Brazil, Adapted from Época Magazine, 03/31/2014. Retrieved on 17.07.20.
As we can read in the text, what would be the main reason why the military applied the coup in 1964?
a) The fear of a communist revolution in Brazil, within the context of the Cold War, which brought together right-wing, military and American politicians.
b) Fear of a military invasion in Brazil of Eastern European bloc countries such as Bulgaria.
c) Jango’s foreign policy, which favored south-south relations to the detriment of exchange with the so-called developed countries.
d) The Soviet Union’s interference in Brazilian internal affairs that scared the nationalist sectors.
Answer
Correct alternative: a) The fear of a communist revolution in Brazil, within the context of the Cold War, which brought together right-wing, military and American politicians.
As we can read from the text, when announcing the basic reforms, Jango would arouse fear in the elite to make a communist revolution. The observation of the prophetic Bulgarian colleague, because that is exactly what happened.
Question 12
Although much is said about the “Economic Miracle”, it lasted only six or seven years, in a period of 21. The external debt was multiplied by 30, but major infrastructure works were built under the military.
13 Questions about the Dictatorship in Brazil, Adapted from Época Magazine, 03/31/2014. Retrieved on 17.07.20.
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)
Answer
Correct alternative: c) Rio-Niterói bridge (RJ)
The Rio-Niterói bridge, officially the Presidente Costa e Silva bridge, was built from 1969 to 1974, in the midst of the military dictatorship.
The national library was established in 1810, the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant was opened in 2016 and the Tubarão railroad in 1884.
Question 13
Read the text below:
“We Chileans, like all the peoples of the West, are fighting the dictatorships of ‘isms’ and the foreign agents that threaten our country. We must fight them with all our forces, with cooperation between the police across America as the main weapon. ”
Operation Condor’s nightmare, Pierre Abramovici, May 1, 2001. Le Monde Diplomatique. Retrieved on 17.07.20.
Operation Condor consisted of:
a) Political coordination of Latin American military dictatorships to promote development in their countries.
b) The interference of the United States in the domestic politics of the Latin American nations that were under military rule.
c) The exchange of information on opposition movements and even the kidnapping of people considered subversive in the countries of the Southern Cone.
d) An attempt by Chileans to dominate South America during the military mandate of General Augusto Pinochet.
Answer
Correct alternative: c) The exchange of information on opposition movements and even the kidnapping of people considered subversive in the countries of the Southern Cone.
The police in the countries of the Southern Cone – 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 denounced to justice six 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 on the premises of the Information Operations Detachment (DOI / Codi) after being arrested by the military when he spontaneously appeared. “
MPF denounces six for the death of journalist Vladimir Herzog, published on 3/17/2020. André Richter, Agência Brasil. Retrieved on 17.07.20.
The death of Vladimir Herzog sparked a wave of protests in the midst of the military dictatorship. Check the INCORRECT alternative on the facts that followed after his death:
a) The São Paulo journalists’ union formally asked for the facts to be investigated.
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 policemen who guarded the arrest of Vladimir Herzog.
Answer
Correct alternative: d) The dismissal of the policemen who guarded the arrest of Vladimir Herzog.
Despite popular and religious mobilization, the police officers who were responsible for the journalist’s surveillance in prison were not punished in any way.
Question 15
In 1974, the singer Elis Regina, recorded the song “O Mestre-sala dos Mares”, whose original title was “O Almirante Negro”, by the composers duo 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 moral prevailing at the time.
b) Both composers were targeted by the dictatorship for their involvement with the Communist party.
c) Censorship did not release the letter, 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).
Answer
Correct alternative: c) The current censorship did not release the letter, as it used terms such as “admiral” and “sailor”, which were considered inappropriate.
The censors of the time asked that the terms “admiral” and “sailor” be removed, as they referred to the Armed Forces. So they replaced it with “navigator” and “sorcerer”, respectively to circumvent censorship.