Quebra-Quilos revolt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Quebra-Quilos revolt (Portuguese: revolta do Quebra-Quilos, literally, "revolt of the kilogram-breaker") was a revolt in northeastern Brazil which lasted from the end of 1874 to the middle of 1875. By the end, entire villages in the northeast were in rebellion against the implementation of the new metric system, sacking marketplaces and destroying commercial weights and measures. These new weights and measures were rented or purchased from the town halls, which paid for their standardization.

In truth, the revolt was not due simply to dissatisfaction with the adoption of a new system of measure in the marketplace. The new measurement system provided the spark for a society upset over new taxes and new rules of military recruiting. One of the taxes which provoked the ire of the rebels was called the "ground tax" (imposto do chão), which was charged to those placing their wares on a market ground. Regarding recruiting, it is said that in this period even people of power were unable to escape "voluntary" military service. For these reasons, merchants, members of the propertied class, small farmers who sold their produce weekly at the market, and consumers upset at the increase in prices all lashed out in one revolutionary movement.

Repression of the rebellion was largely achieved wihtout major force.