Portuguese History since World War II until today

In western Europe

In Iberian Peninsula

This is Portugal

Brief History

Portugal was a monarchy since its foundation from 1143 until 1910, when a Republican revolution changed the Portuguese regime.

Since 1910 until 1926 Portugal had the 1st Republic regime and then a political coup gave rise to a new regime, which became a dictatorship, in 1932.

Portuguese dictatorshipDuring the Second World War Portugal was under a dictatorship, a political regime which prevailed in Portugal for 41 years without interruption, since the Constitution of 1933 until the revolution in April 25th , in 1974.

We didn´t fight in the World War II but our leader (Salazar) helped Hitler and Mussolini since they had the same political ideas.

Portugal out of the World War IISalazar was very proud of the Portuguese neutrality and, to accomplish a religious promise, he ordered the construction of one of the most prominent Portuguese landmarks, the statue of “Cristo-Rei,” who blesses Lisbon from the other side of the river.

The BridgeIn 1966, Salazar also gave his name to this bridge.The name of this bridge changed to 25th April Bridge after the April Revolution (1974).

SalazarAntonio de Oliveira Salazar was the founder of this regime called “Estado Novo” and after his death, Marcelo Caetano followed the same political ideology.

Oliveira Salazar

Marcelo Caetano

Ideological repressionDuring this period the portuguese people weren´t allowed to express freely because they didn’t have freedom to express their political ideias. The political police (PIDE) exerted a strong repression and ideological control in our country. Many people were arrested and tortured because they had different political opinions.

The Colonial WarAfter World War II, ONU decided that Portugal, among other countries, had to give autonomy to its colonies.Portugal refused to accomplish this determination and the result was a long war period, which started in 1961.It was the period of confrontation between the Portuguese Army and the liberation movements of the former overseas provinces of Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, between 1961 and 1974 .

In Portugal there is a big tradition in what concerns migration. The numbers were always impressive but in the 20th century it was particularly remarkable:→ From 1958 to 1974 the official statistics registered about 1,5 millions people leaving Portugal. Portuguese people were looking for better living conditions but a great part of the young people ran away from their military duty, which would forced them to participate in the colonial war:→ In 1973 there were about 123 thousand emigrants;→ In 1974, in spite of many restrictions, 71 thousand people left the country.

Portuguese Migration

The official propagandaSalazar changed the Portuguese laws to show the world that Portugal was a great country, as great as Europe, and their colonies were not colonies but “overseas provinces”.

Those ideas were against the United Nations’ ideals.

Important personalitiesAristides de Sousa Mendes (1885-1953)

He was a consul in France, who took advantage of his post, and helped to save about 30000 Jewish refugees who were trying to escape from Nazism. Because of his good work he’s known as “the Portuguese Schindler”.

Important personalitiesEusébio (1942-1914)

He was one of the best Portuguese football players in the football history, known as the Black Panther. Eusébio lead Portugal to a third-place in the 1966 World Cup.

During the dictatorship Eusébio was a symbol of the Portuguese tolerance.

Important personalitiesCristiano Ronaldo, born in 1985, is a very famous Portuguese football player, who has won FIFA’s “ballon d’or” prize for three times.

Important PersonalitiesAmália Rodrigues (1920-1999)

She was a very famous fado’s singer, considered an important international symbol of the Portuguese music. She became an ambassador of Portuguese culture all over the world.She started her career in 1939 and sang until the last few years of her life.  When Rodrigues died in 1999 she was mourned as an icon of Portuguese life.

25th April 1974The Portuguese dictatorship regime collapsed due to a military action called MFA (Movimento das Forças Armadas). Nowadays it’s still a very memorable day celebrated by the Portuguese people.The people were tired of repression and censorship and the Portuguese army was tired of the colonial war.

April 25th 1974

In April 25th , during the military revolution flowers, that were supposed to be sold in Lisbon streets and squares, were given to the soldiers who placed them in their weapons. During the revolution the soldiers did not fire their weapons, instead, they carried the flowers on the top of their guns. This day is now known as the Revolução dos Cravos (The Carnation Revolution).

People in Lisbon on the 25th of April

Portuguese Republic Presidents1976 – Ramalho Eanes1986 – Mário Soares1996 – Jorge Sampaio 2006 – Cavaco Silva

2016 – Marcelo Rebelo de SousaEach presidential term lasts for 5 years; every president has accomplished 2 presidential terms so far.

Nobel Prizes1949 – Egas Moniz was a Portuguese neurologist and the responsible for the development of cerebral angiography. He won a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1949.1998 – José Saramago was a Portuguese writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998.

José SaramagoHis books were

translated in many countries.

Portugal in the European UnionIn 1986 Portugal joined the European Union. This decision gave Portugal some financial support to improve our industry and agriculture.Portugal had also the opportunity to join the foreign market.Since 1986 Portugalhas had a very strongdevelopment in what concerns economicand social areas.

Expo 98In the following decades Portugal has developed in several different areas.In 1998 Portugal presented a very successful International Fair, named Expo 98. The theme of the fair was "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future", chosen in part to commemorate 500 years of Portuguese discoveries.

Expo 98By this time Lisbon had a new interface, Gare do Oriente, designed by Calatrava, a famous Spanish architect. It is a major train, bus and metro station that provides travel connections to the whole of Portugal. It was finished in 1998 for the Expo’98 world’s fair in Parque das Nações, where it is located.

Vasco da Gama BridgeThis period was very important, Portugal was experiencing a strong development in many different areas.A second bridge across the Tagus river was built and it was named Vasco da Gama, one of the most famous Portuguese navigators.

The EuroOn the 1st January 2002, after a decade of tough negotiations the euro was finally introduced in 12 European countries, including Portugal.The goal of creating an economic and monetary union was accomplished and notes and coins began to circulate.

Last years of our historyDuring the last years Portugal has had some issues to solve: → An economic crisis with an austerity budget, which has led many Portuguese people to unemployment; → Thousand of Portuguese people, specially the youngest ones, are being forced to emigrate. Some are hoping to get their first job and others are looking for better living conditions.

Smiling to the futureIn spite of all these problems, Portuguese people hope for a better future since we are nice, creative and adventurous people.