Carnation Revolution Ends Fascism in Portugal -- April 25, 1974

The Carnation Revolution (so-called due to its relatively peaceful unfolding and its leftist character) began in Portugal on April 25, 1974 sweeping away decades of fascist rule and bringing to power a popular and far left/Communist influenced government. The revolution not only liberated the Portuguese people from fascism, it also ultimately led to the end of the Portuguese colonial empire. After a series of sweeping reforms and democratization in all aspects of Portuguese society the far left attempted to seize power in November, 1975 and failed. This led to a wave of counter-revolution that, after elections in 1976, entrenched a liberal capitalist system in power.

Despite this setback the importance of the revolution for the people of Portugal, as well as for the people of countries like Angola and Mozambique, should not be underestimated. It stands as a magnificent example of how the power of the people can bring dramatic and positive change.

To learn more about the aims of the revolutionary government see our post: Portugal Freedom Year One 1926 - 1975, Ministry of Mass Communication

The Struggle for National Liberation in Africa, World Peace Council 1975

Vintage Leftist Leaflet Project

See the end of this post for details on the project.

Leaflet: The Struggle for National Liberation in Africa, World Peace Council 1975

This leaflet looks at the situation of the anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist struggle in Africa in 1975 from the point of view of the World Peace Council. We have looked at the WPC on the Vintage Leftist Leaflet Project before including with What is the World Peace Council, 1975. 

Much of the leaflet is focused on the apartheid regime in South Africa and the support this racist and fascist regime received from the United States, England, France, NATO and Israel at the time. The leaflet also was released against the backdrop of the collapse of Portuguese fascism and Portuguese colonialism after the Carnation Revolution. We looked at a document of the Carnation Revolution recently with Portugal Freedom Year One 1926 - 1975, Ministry of Mass Communication.

(Click on images to enlarge)

When The Left Chapter began part of what I wanted to do on the blog was to show and highlight vintage public leftist election/political leaflets and booklets. While many of these have been offered with commentary to date, a very large collection of hundreds of them from several different sources remains and to preserve these often quite rare documents we will be posting them on a regular (almost daily) basis now often without or with minimal commentary so that people may have access to them as quickly as possible as an historical resource. 

While these will all be leaflets from a variety of different leftist viewpoints and countries, they are being posted as an historical/study resource and the views or opinions expressed in them do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or blogger.

All of these posts (as well as posts made to date) will be listed on the page:Vintage Communist/Socialist Leaflets (which is still being updated with past posts).


If you have any public, vintage leaflets or booklets you would like to contribute to this project please contact us via theleftchapter@outlook.com

Portugal Freedom Year One 1926 - 1975, Ministry of Mass Communication

Vintage Leftist Leaflet Project

See the end of this post for details on the project.

Leaflet: Portugal Freedom Year One 1926 - 1975, Ministry of Mass Communication 

This remarkable document details the aims and goals of a revolutionary government in its infancy and in action.

It was published in February, 1975 in Portugal by the popular and far left/Communist influenced government that came to power after the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974. The Carnation Revolution (so-called due to its relatively peaceful unfolding and its leftist character) had swept away decades of fascist rule. The revolution not only liberated the Portuguese people from fascism, it also led to the end of the Portuguese colonial empire. After a series of sweeping reforms and democratization in all aspects of Portuguese society the far left attempted to seize power in November, 1975 and failed. This ultimately led to a wave of counter-revolution that, after elections in 1976, entrenched a liberal capitalist system in power.

The leaflet here gives an outline history of fascism in Portugal, the resistance to it, the reforms of the revolution and the move to total decolonization.

(Click on scans to enlarge)

When The Left Chapter began part of what I wanted to do on the blog was to show and highlight vintage public leftist election/political leaflets and booklets. While many of these have been offered with commentary to date, a very large collection of hundreds of them from several different sources remains and to preserve these often quite rare documents we will be posting them on a regular (almost daily) basis now often without or with minimal commentary so that people may have access to them as quickly as possible as an historical resource. 

While these will all be leaflets from a variety of different leftist viewpoints and countries, they are being posted as an historical/study resource and the views or opinions expressed in them do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or blogger.

All of these posts (as well as posts made to date) will be listed on the page: Vintage Communist/Socialist Leaflets (which is still being updated with past posts).


If you have any public, vintage leaflets or booklets you would like to contribute to this project please contact us via theleftchapter@outlook.com