The military moved swiftly to dismantle democracy. Congress was dissolved, those representatives not to military taste being removed. It then reconvened with only two parties, an official government and an official opposition ("The difference," ran a joke at the time, "is that one says Yes, and the other, Yes Sir!"). All other parties were banned. The Peasant Leagues and trade unions were repressed, with many of their leaders tortured and imprisoned, and even prominent national politicians like Arrães were thrown into jail. The ferocity of the military took aback even those on the right who had agitated for a coup. Ironically, many of them were hoist with their own petard when they voiced criticism, and found themselves gagged by the same measures they had urged against the left.

The political climate worsened steadily during the 1960s. An urban guerrilla campaign took off in the cities - its most spectacular success was the kidnapping of the American ambassador in 1969, released unharmed in return for over a hundred political detainees - but it only served as an excuse for the hardliners to crack down even further. General Emílio Garrastazú Médici , leader of the hardliners, took over the presidency in 1969 and the worst period of military rule began. Torture became routine, censorship was strict and thousands were driven into exile: this dark chapter in Brazilian history lasted for five agonizing years, until he gave way to Ernesto Geisel in 1974. The scars Médici left behind him, literally and metaphorically, have still not completely healed.