In the 1930s, three failed attempts to remove Vargas and his supporters from power occurred. The first was the Constitutionalist Revolution in 1932, led by the Paulista oligarchy. The second was a Communist uprising in November 1935, and the last one a putsch attempt by local fascists in May 1938.[129][130][131] The 1935 uprising created a security crisis in which the Congress transferred more power to the executive. The 1937 coup d'état resulted in the cancellation of the 1938 election, formalized Vargas as dictator, beginning the Estado Novo era, which was noted for government brutality and censorship of the press.[132]
Foreign policy during the Vargas years was marked by the antecedents[clarification needed] and World War II. Brazil remained neutral until August 1942, when the country entered on the allied side,[133][134] after suffering retaliation by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, in a strategic dispute over the South Atlantic.[135] In addition to its participation in the battle of the Atlantic, Brazil also sent an expeditionary force to fight in the Italian campaign.[136]
