The Brazilian Empire falls in the end…

The Brazilian Empire falls in the end because the elites do not need it to protect their interests.

Indeed, imperial centralization runs counter to their desires for local autonomy.

The republicans embrace federalism, which some see as a way to counter the oligarchies, which use patronage and clientage to stay in power.

In the early republic, however, they will find that the oligarchies adapt easily and use their accumulated power and skills to control the new governmental system.

Taking advantage of cabinet crises in 1888 and 1889 and of rising frustration among military officers, republicans favoring change by revolution rather than by evolution draw military officers, led by Field Marshal Fonseca, into a conspiracy to replace the cabinet in November 1889.

What starts as an armed demonstration demanding replacement of a cabinet turns within hours into a coup d'etat deposing Emperor Pedro II.