1851–1910: The era of progress and development

The Regeneration military coup of 1851, led by Marshall Saldanha, put an end to liberal military insurrections. The new government, under Queen Maria II, had a material development policy led by Minister Fontes Pereira de Melo. During this period Portugal followed European progress with new roads, railways, iron bridges, urban renewal, pubic gardens and military and scientific missions into Africa colonies – Angola and Mozambique. Portugal participated enthusiastically in the international and universal exhibitions of the late 19th century. But it is also in these last decades when Republican ideals emerged and the first Republican deputies were elected. Meanwhile, the British Ultimatum (1891) put a stop to Portugal’s colonial aims to link Angola by land to Mozambique. The monarchy became very unpopular and in 1908 the King was murdered when he was arriving in Lisbon.