Why did the state of São Paulo wage a three-month civil war in 1932?

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1932, the state of São Paulo rose up against Brazil’s provisional government, demanding a new constitution. Known as the Constitutionalist Revolution, this 87-day conflict pitted Paulista volunteers against federal forces. Despite a military defeat, the rebels achieved their core political goal: the enactment of a new national constitution.

The Constitutionalist Revolution, also called the Paulista War, erupted on July 9, 1932, following the deaths of four student protesters—Martins, Miragaia, Dráusio, and Camargo—in May. The movement, known as MMDC, emerged from deep resentment toward Getúlio Vargas, who had seized power in 1930 and ruled by decree, effectively dismantling the autonomy states held under the 1891 constitution. Paulistas sought to force the provisional government to adopt a new constitution and restore democratic order, though federal propaganda falsely accused them of seeking secession.

Militarily, the odds were stark. The Paulistas, relying on the Força Pública Paulista and thousands of volunteers, struggled with severe supply shortages. With only about six million cartridges available for an army of 30,000, soldiers were limited to roughly 4.4 cartridges per day. In contrast, the federal government mobilized approximately 100,000 men. Despite the bravery of volunteer battalions and the use of aircraft like the Waco CSO and Potez 25TOE, the rebels were overwhelmed on multiple fronts, including the decisive breakthrough by federal forces in Eleutério on August 26.

The conflict ended on October 2, 1932, with the surrender of the Paulistas to General Valdomiro Lima. Official records cite 934 deaths, though unofficial estimates reach 2,200. While the rebellion failed on the battlefield, it succeeded in its primary political objectives. Vargas appointed a non-military governor for São Paulo and oversaw the election of a Constituent Assembly, leading to the enactment of a new constitution in 1934. This victory was short-lived, however, as Vargas dissolved Congress in 1937 to establish the authoritarian Estado Novo, rendering the 1934 constitution obsolete.

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