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| 1975, Oct. 25 |
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| The death of well-known journalist Vladimir Herzog in police custody galvanized the opposition. At the University of São Paulo 15,000 students went on strike. | 1 |
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| 1976, Nov. 15 |
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| In spite of new laws designed to stifle the opposition, the MDB made significant gains in municipal elections. This prompted a temporary closing of Congress to change the constitution. Divorce was legalized when Congress reopened. | 2 |
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| 1976–79 |
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| Continued decline in living standards coincided with a growing antimilitary movement with strong participation by the Catholic Church and grassroots Christian communities. Emerging women's movements protested specific injustices, and a small feminist movement took shape; also, renewed militancy among the African-Brazilian population challenged Brazil's image as a “racial democracy.” Most significant in terms of popular protest was labor insurgency. Militant trade unionists appeared in key industries. | 3 |
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| 1978–80 |
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| In a series of massive metallurgical workers' strikes, 500,000 workers struck in 1978 and another 3.2 million in 1979. LUIZ INÁCIO (LULA) DA SILVA emerged as leader and head of the newly formed Workers' Party. | 4 |
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| 1978, Sept. 30 |
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| Thirty-three unions issued a joint manifesto demanding the right to strike. | 5 |
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| Oct. 15 |
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| Military candidate Gen. João Baptista Figueiredo was declared the victor over MDB candidate Gen. Euler Bentes Montero in presidential elections. | 6 |
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