Brazil History
About the Brazil history
Prior to its discovery in 1500 by Pedro Alvares Cabral
and its colonization by Portugal in 1600, Brazil is thought to have
been inhabited by an indigenous, semi-nomadic populations for at
least 8,000 years.
Colonial Flag
Brazil remained a colony of Portugal from the 16C to the 19C. A system based on hereditary captaincies,
which was devised to safeguard Portugal's claim on Brazil, saw
Brazil's land divided and dispersed to the Portuguese nobility.
When the initial exploration for Brasil's gold resources did not
prove successful, Brazil's natural agricultural resources of wood,
sugarcane, coffee beans, tobacco and cotton were subsequently
exploited by the Portuguese. Sugar provided substantial revenues
on account of it being a most sought after commodity by the European
countries. This demand and supply relied upon the labours of
enslaved Amerindian people and after 1532, mainly enslaved African
people.
The Brazil history and Portuguese Royalty
It is noted that a significant turning point in the Brazil history
came about in 1808 the Portuguese royal family headed by
Queen Maria l of Portugal, the government and nobility, fled
Napoleon's armies and traveled to Brazil northeast, relocating
in Rio de Janeiro. They remained in Rio until 1821.
The Empire Flag
The history of Brazil took a new turn when Prince regent
Dom Pedrom l (who was later Pedro IV of Portugal),
declared independence on September 1822, thus establishing an
independent Brazilian Empire.
A treaty was signed on August 29
1825 with Britain and Portugal, recognizing the Empire's
independence. It is felt that since the crown remained in the
hands of the House of Braganca, that this was not true
independence but rather a case of the splitting of the Portuguese
empire in two.
United Kingdom of Portugal
During this period in the history of Brazil, commercial ports were
opened to the UK, which at the time was isolated from most other
European ports by Napoleon. This effectively brought Brazil under
a United Kingdom, under Portuguese Crown.
When king John VI of Portugal left Brazil to return to his European
territory in 1821, his elder son, Pedro l, remained behind as
regent of Brazil. Following the royal
departure from Brazil, the remaining sovereign government in
Rio de Janeiro wanted to dissolve the Kingdom of Brazil with a
view to returning it to a colony. The Brazilian War of Independence
was the result of the conflict which came out of this move.
Though very much liked by the people of Brazil, Dom Pedro was viewed
by the landed elites as being too liberal. Following his abdication
in 1831, he returned to Portugal, leaving behind his young son -
Emperor Pedro II, who was acclaimed emperor in 1840 at the age of
14.
The turning point in Brazil History
The Male Revolt, a rebellion by the enslaved people took place
in Bahia in 1835. Having presided over the abolition of
slavery in 1888, Pedro II's rule - a parliamentary affair,
lasted until 1889 when a republican military coup, led by
General Deodoro da Fonseca, ousted him and Brazil became a federal
republic. Brazil experienced heavy European immigration, - creating
the basis for industrialization.
Democracy in the Brazil History
Temporary Republican Flag
Brasil attracted many immigrants to its shore during the late
19C and early 20C, as well as becoming industrialized. The
migrations included European, Arab and Japanese people.
Dictatorship rule in the Brazil History
On three separate occasions in the Brazil history, starting from 1930
Brazil's democracy was replaced by dictatorships
under different generals appointed by the military. 1930 - 1934;
1937 - 1945: and 1964 - 1985.
It is stated that the military forces carrying out the coup of 1964 did so with
the co-operation of the U.S Government. Since 1985, Brazil has
been seen as a presidential democracy. Brazilian voters were given the
choice of indicating a preference for a presidential or a
parliamentary system in 1993. Voters also decided not to restore
the country's constitutional monarchy.
As you can see, the history of Brazil and for its people has been a turbulent one that
has been so aptly captured and depicted in the
Brasil Flag today and in the
Flags of Brasil's State and its regions.
It is always wonderful to have some background information about
your holiday destination. The history of Brazil will hopefully
have given you a little more insight into Brasil, the North East
region and the Brazilian people, before your Brazil travel northeast.
You may also be interested in Maps of Brazil
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