Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1910, her husband occupied several important offices; government minister, ambassador and, briefly, in 1914, Prime Minister. In 1915, her husband was elected President of the Republic. With the start of the First World War and Portugal's participation in the conflict, Elzira Dantas Machado helped create the Portuguese Women's Crusade in 1916, with the purpose of aiding soldiers and their families. In December 1917, a revolutionary junta led by Sidónio Pais staged a "coup d'état" that overthrew the government led by Prime Minister Costa and President Machado. Elzira Dantas accompanied her husband into exhile in France.