Brazil: Lesson 2

History of Brazil

Early History

• In 1943 the Pope decided that all lands west of a certain line would belong to Spain, and all lands east would belong to Portugal. Brazil was in the east.

• The first Portuguese ships stopped in Brazil in 1500, they didn't stay long and had peaceful encounters with the indigenous, or native, peoples living on the coast. These native Tupi people had lived in Brazil for 10,000 years before the Portuguese showed up.

Early History

• Like the Tupi, Brazil's other indigenous people were mainly farmers. They practiced slash-and-burn agriculture, where forests are cut down and they burn the underbrush to create fields for growing crops.

• The Portuguese largely ignored Brazil for the first 30 years, then they realized they could trade the brazilwood that grew on the coast. The red dye was highly valued in Europe.

Colonial Brazil

• Portugal's rule of Brazil lasted almost 300 years.

• King John the 3rd gave wealthy supporters large tracts of land that they could develop and turn into cities and farms.

• Colonists couldn't do all the work required, so they began enslaving the natives. Many resisted, thousands died due to diseases.

• The bad conditions in Brazil caused King John to end the land-grant system in 1949 and sent a governor to rule the colony.

• The new governor brought more colonists, including Jesuit Catholic priests who set about converting the natives, those who converted were free from slavery. The colonists who were enslaving the locals weren't happy about losing access to potential slaves. Slave hunters were sent to the interior to track down natives.

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Independent Brazil

• Brazil's independence was gradual, fairly easy, and with little bloodshed.

• Brazil became a constitutional monarchy with a king, after gaining independence during the war against Napoleon.

• In the 1860's a new movement began to emancipate, or free, the enslaved. It was a gradual change, by 1888 all slaves were free.

Independent Brazil

• In 1889, powerful plantation owners who were angered by the loss of their slaves, supported the army to overthrow Pedro the 2nd.

• Brazil became a republic, where only wealthy plantation owners could vote.

• This meant that the presidents elected almost all followed economic policies. By 1902 Brazil was supplying 65% of the World's coffee.

• In 1930, Vargas overthrew the "coffee president" and became a hero to the people. Unfortunately he was also a dictator. He was forced to resign by the military in 1945.

• For over 30 years, the government in Brazil alternated between dictators and elected leaders. This caused the military to take over in 1964.

• The military gave up power in 1985.

Modern Brazil

• Today Brazil is a democratic republic where the people elect the president and other officials.

• Voting is compulsory, they have no choice in deciding whether or not to vote if they are aged 18 to 70.