ABSTRACT
The abrupt end of the essentially prosperous post-World War I decade followed by its antithesis, the Great Depression, had a profound effect throughout the Western world. The original core of the revolutionary movement that eventually triumphed in October 1930 was the ferientes, who had gained conspiratorial experience as well as a significant degree of popular renown during the four years of their armed struggle against the Bernardes government. Entering state politics in 1908, shortly after graduation from law school in Porto Alegre, where he established a reputation in student politics, Vargas was immediately recognized as possessing unusual leadership talents. Within the National Revolutionary Party (PNR), the holding company of regional political bosses and near warlords created by recent ex-president Plutarco Elias Calles in 1929, this Godfather-like inveterate political schemer and manipulator managed to be kingmaker and power behind the throne in a system called the Maximato in honor of his title as Jefe Maximo of the revolution.
