April 25, 1974.
This year, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, April 25, 1974. A moment that ended the years of dictatorship and paved the way for democracy. The Alentejo was deeply marked by the Salazar regime, and it was thanks to the 1974 Revolution that the lives of the local population changed radically.
Thus, a population characterized by being extremely poor and with a strong social inequality, the population of the Alentejo lived off what the land gave them, in precarious conditions and with very low wages. The population had no access to education, health services were poor and illiteracy was a widespread problem.
What it was like back then
The April 25 Revolution brought many changes to the Alentejo region. The redistribution of land, returning access to properties to their owners. The creation of agricultural cooperatives allowed rural workers to unite and organize themselves in order to produce more efficiently. The expansion of access to education and health services, which gradually eliminated the high illiteracy rate.
Thus, the Revolution had a very positive impact on the lives of the population of the Alentejo. Poverty and social inequality have been reduced and the population’s standard of living has risen significantly. They gained access to education and health services, which led to more opportunities for personal and professional development for the people of the region.
Today, the population of the Alentejo continues to face enormous challenges. However, agriculture continues to play a very important role in the economy, as do tourism, industry and many services. Today, the Alentejo is a prosperous region.
In short, April 25, 1974 was a day that marked a new dawn for the country, but especially for the Alentejo. The changes have brought more benefits to the population and significantly improved their quality of life.
