Portugal was ruled by an authoritarian regime, known as the Estado Novo (New State), established by António de Oliveira Salazar in 1933. The regime was characterized by its repressive policies, censorship of the media, suppression of political dissent, and strict control over the economy. Additionally, Portugal was involved in a series of costly and unpopular colonial wars in Africa, which led to widespread discontent among the military and the civilian population.

Causes of the Carnation Revolution: Several factors contributed to the eventual uprising against the Estado Novo regime. First, the Portuguese military was demoralized by the ongoing colonial wars in Africa, which had been draining the country's resources and manpower. The wars in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau had been going on for more than a decade, with no clear resolution in sight.

Second, the country's economy was stagnating, with a significant portion of the national budget being allocated to the wars. This led to a decline in living standards, increased unemployment, and widespread poverty.

Lastly, the political climate in Portugal was changing, with growing opposition to the regime from various sectors of society, including students, workers, and intellectuals. The death of Salazar in 1970 and his replacement by Marcelo Caetano did little to address the underlying issues, as the new leader continued the same repressive policies.

The Events of the Carnation Revolution: The Carnation Revolution began on April 25, 1974, when a group of low-ranking military officers, known as the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), staged a coup against the government. The coup was carefully planned, with the MFA coordinating the takeover of key strategic locations across the country, including military bases, radio stations, and government buildings.

The coup was largely bloodless, as the population and the majority of the military supported the MFA's actions. The Portuguese people took to the streets to celebrate the end of the regime, placing carnations in the barrels of soldiers' guns, which led to the name "Carnation Revolution."

Key Players and the Transition to Democracy: The MFA was instrumental in the success of the Carnation Revolution, with key figures such as Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho and Vasco Gonçalves leading the military operations. Following the coup, the MFA established a provisional government, which included representatives from various political parties.

The new government took several steps to dismantle the Estado Novo regime, such as releasing political prisoners, legalizing political parties, and lifting censorship. Additionally, the government moved to decolonize the African territories, granting independence to Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

In 1975, a constituent assembly was elected to draft a new constitution, which was adopted in 1976. The constitution established a parliamentary democracy, with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government.