António de Oliveira Salazar Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids António de Oliveira Salazar


Minister for Finances
In office 3 June 1926 – 19 June 1926
Prime Minister	José Mendes Cabeçadas
Preceded by	Armando Marques Guedes
Succeeded by	Filomeno Melo Cabral
Minister for Finances
In office April 28, 1928 – August 28, 1940
Prime Minister	José Vicente de Freitas (April 28, 1928–July 8, 1928) Artur Ivens Ferraz (July 8, 1928–January 21, 1930) Domingos Oliveira (January 21, 1930–July 5, 1932) Himself (July 5, 1932–August 28, 1940)
Preceded by	João Sinel de Cordes
Succeeded by	João Costa Leite
Minister for the Colonies (interim)
In office January 21, 1930 – July 20, 1930
Prime Minister	Domingos Oliveira
Preceded by	José Bacelar Bebiano
Succeeded by	Eduardo Augusto Marques
101st Prime Minister of Portugal (47th of the Republic) (7th since the 1926 coup d'état) (1st of the Estado Novo)
In office July 5, 1932 – September 25, 1968
President	António Óscar Carmona (July 5, 1932–April 18, 1951) Himself (interim) (April 18, 1951–August 9, 1951) Francisco Craveiro Lopes (August 9, 1951–August 9, 1958) Américo Thomaz (August 9, 1958–September 25, 1968)
Preceded by	Domingos Oliveira
Succeeded by	Marcelo Caetano
Minister for Defence
In office July 5, 1932 – August 2, 1950
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Post created
Succeeded by	Santos Costa
Minister for War
In office May 11, 1936 – September 6, 1944
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Abílio Passos e Sousa
Succeeded by	Santos Costa
Minister for Defence
In office April 13, 1961 – December 4, 1962
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Júlio Botelho Moniz
Succeeded by	Gomes de Araújo
12th President of Portugal (4th since the 1926 coup d'état; 2nd of the Estado Novo)
In office April 18, 1951 – August 9, 1951
Preceded by	António Óscar Carmona
Succeeded by	Francisco Craveiro Lopes

Personal details
Born	(1889-04-28)28 April 1889 Portugal Vimieiro, Santa Comba Dão
Died	27 July 1970(1970-07-27) (aged 81) Portugal Lisbon
Political party	Academic Centre of Christian Democracy, later National Union
Occupation	Regent professor of Political economy and Finances at the University of Coimbra

António de Oliveira Salazar (born April 28, 1888 – died July 27, 1970) was a very important leader in Portugal for a long time. He served as the Prime Minister and also as a dictator from 1932 to 1968. He was the main person behind the Estado Novo (meaning "New State"), which was an authoritarian government that ruled Portugal from 1932 until 1974.

Early Life and Rise to Power
- Becoming Finance Minister
As Prime Minister of Portugal
The Colonies
Death
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Rise to Power

Salazar was born in Vimieiro, a small place in Santa Comba Dão, Portugal. His father worked on a farm and later became a farm manager. Salazar first studied at the Viseu Seminary from 1900 to 1914, hoping to become a priest. However, he changed his mind and decided to study Law at the University of Coimbra.

Becoming Finance Minister

In 1926, a military revolution took over Portugal. The country was facing big financial problems. Dr. Salazar was asked to help manage the nation's money. He became the Finance Minister for a short time, just 13 days. He resigned because he didn't like how politicians and soldiers interfered with his work.

He went back to his university. But in 1928, he was asked again to be Finance Minister. This time, he agreed only if he was given more power and less interference from the military. Salazar stayed in this role until 1932. Many people gave him credit for helping Portugal's economy get back on track.

As Prime Minister of Portugal

Dr. Salazar became the Prime Minister of Portugal in 1932 and stayed in power until 1968. He ruled Portugal for almost 40 years.

Portugal During World War II

During World War II, Salazar managed to keep Portugal out of the conflict. He also worked to prevent Spain from invading Portugal by maintaining good relations with both sides of the war.

Helping Refugees

Some people called Salazar a "fascist." However, his government played a role in helping thousands of Jewish people escape Europe during the war. They issued Portuguese travel documents to many refugees. These people were fleeing through Europe and often came to Portugal as a stop before going to North America.

This help was not widely known at the time. An official named Aristides de Sousa Mendes also helped many refugees. Salazar's government later ordered Mendes to stop, but Portugal's actions during this time are seen by some as very helpful.

Colonial Policies and People

Portugal under Salazar was unique among European nations. It allowed non-white people to hold positions in government and law. Other colonial powers usually did not give similar rights to their "colonial subjects." Portugal gave its subjects full civil status.

However, this status was not given to all black people in African territories. It was mainly for those who were "assimilados." This term meant Africans who had adopted Portuguese customs and met certain education levels. Only about 4% of the African population was considered "assimilado." People from Portugal's overseas colonies like Cape Verde, India, and China were generally considered "assimilados."

The Cold War and Its Impact

In the mid-1960s, Portugal and its colonies became involved in the Cold War. This led to conflicts in Africa, which cost Portugal a lot of money and resources. Many people blamed Salazar for these wars and the poverty they caused.

Thousands of people from mainland Portugal moved to other European countries, especially France. They wanted to avoid being drafted into the military and fighting in Africa. Many of them found jobs there. After a military coup in 1974, many of these people returned to Portugal and became important politicians.

Salazar's Legacy

Even today, some people in Portugal still admire Salazar. He was even voted the greatest Portuguese man of all time in a TV show. Some say this was a way for people to show their frustration with current politicians. Others believe it shows true support for Salazar.

The Colonies

In 1945, Portugal still had a large colonial Empire. This included:

Cape Verde Islands
São Tomé e Principe
Angola (including Cabinda)
Portuguese Guinea
Mozambique in Africa
Goa, Damão (including Dadra and Nagar Haveli), and Diu in India
Macau in China
Portuguese Timor in Southeast Asia

Salazar was determined to keep control of all these territories. After World War II, the colonies faced many challenges. In India, people in Goa wanted their region to join the newly independent country of India. There were strikes and protests against the Portuguese. In 1961, the Indian Armed Forces invaded and took over Goa, Daman, and Diu. Revolutions against Portuguese rule also began in Mozambique, Angola, and Portuguese Guinea.

Death

In 1968, Salazar had a serious stroke, reportedly after falling from a chair at his summer home. Because of his health, President Américo Thomaz had to replace him with Marcelo Caetano on September 27, 1968.

Salazar died in Lisbon on July 27, 1970. Tens of thousands of people attended his funeral. They watched as a special train carried his coffin to his hometown of Santa Comba Dão. He was buried in a simple grave next to his ancestors and local farmers. Despite being a powerful leader for decades, Salazar lived a very simple life. He never owned a car, and the house he lived in Lisbon belonged to the state. He was said to have only two suits in his wardrobe.

Images for kids

Salazar's birthplace in Santa Comba Dão.
Azulejo with a quote from Salazar, in Esposende
Caricature depicting Salazar and Franco as the "old men of Iberia," the last two dictators of Western Europe.
View of the 25 de Abril Bridge, formerly Salazar Bridge, from Chapel of Santo Amaro, with Christ the King in the background