Cartazes do Revolução Português (Posters from the Portuguese Revolution)

Owning Institution: San José State University, Special Collections and Archives

About this Collection

The “Revolução dos Cravos” (Carnation Revolution) of 25 April 1974 brought an abrupt end to 41 years of the Estado Novo regime and 48 years of brutal dictatorship. With serious opposition political parties banned and dissenters underground or in jail, it was left to disaffected army captains and soldiers across the country to refuse orders and challenge the regime. Organized as the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA), the rebel soldiers seized radio stations and strategic state properties. Cautioning people to stay safe inside their homes, thousands of civilians instead came out into the streets to join with and support the rebel soldiers. Seeing the inevitable, the regime of Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano stepped down without firing a shot. Rebel soldiers in the Lisbon flower market placed carnations in their gun barrels, giving the Carnation Revolution its name. Left political parties, trade unions, and popular movements spawned a creative explosion of persuasive revolutionary art, a sample of which is contained in this collection of poster cards.

This digital collection consists of 42 poster cards produced as anti-government propaganda during the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. View this collection on the contributor's website.

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