ORIGENS DO TRABALHISMO: a experiência de Pedro Ernesto Baptista na década de 1930

Abstract

This study began as an analysis of the Brazilian historiography on Populism and Laborism, followed by a presentation of Pedro Ernesto's political views and developments on strengthening the ties with the working class in Brazil in the 1930's. Pedro Ernesto was a Brazilian politician first appointed as a temporary governor and later democratically elected as the mayor of Rio the Janeiro, Brazil's former capital city. His main efforts were directed at appeasing the general discontent of the working class and certain social groups, whose interests were mostly disregarded and unattended in the politicial scene of that period. His popularity was so overwhelming that he found opposition in both the Left and Right parties, as well as in Vargas and his presidencial staff, whose interest was to maintain his position and authority and implement a dictatorship. The resolutions and endeavors attempted by Pedro Ernesto to amass the support of the working class were finally subverted by the defiance and restraints imposed by his political enemies.