A Brief History of Brazil’s Political Transformation From Dictatorship to Democracy

Brazil was inhabited by various indigenous peoples who spoke different languages and had different cultures before the arrival of Europeans.

The first European to explore Brazil was Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese navigator who landed on the coast of Bahia in 1500.

Portugal claimed Brazil as part of its empire and exploited its natural resources, especially sugar cane and gold. It also imported millions of African slaves to work on plantations and mines.

Brazil became the seat of the Portuguese monarchy in 1808, when King João VI fled from Napoleon’s invasion of Portugal. He returned in 1821, leaving his son Pedro as regent.

On September 7, 1822, Pedro declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal and became the first emperor of Brazil. The country became a constitutional monarchy until 1889, when a military coup established a republic.

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• Indigenous peoples
• Pedro Álvares Cabral
• Sugar cane and gold
• African slaves
• Portuguese monarchy
• Independence and empire
• Constitutional monarchy and republic
• Vargas Era
• Military dictatorship
• Democratization and economic development

Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of Brazil, who lived in different regions and spoke different languages before the arrival of Europeans.

They had diverse cultures, beliefs, and ways of life, and some of them developed complex societies, such as the Tupi, the Guarani, the Xingu, and the Yanomami.

They were often exploited, enslaved, or killed by the Portuguese colonizers, who wanted to take their lands and resources. Many of them also died from diseases brought by the Europeans.

Today, there are about 900,000 indigenous people in Brazil, belonging to 274 ethnic groups and speaking 305 languages. They live in 690 indigenous territories, which cover 13% of the country’s area.

They face many challenges, such as land conflicts, environmental degradation, violence, discrimination, and lack of access to health and education. They also struggle to preserve their cultures and identities in a modern society.

Pedro Álvares Cabral.

Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who is credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500.

He was born in Belmonte, Portugal, around 1467 or 1468, and came from a noble family. He received a good education and became a knight of the Order of Christ.

He was chosen by King Manuel I to lead the second Portuguese expedition to India, following the route of Vasco da Gama. He had a fleet of 13 ships and about 1,200 men.

On his way to India, he deviated from the usual course and reached the coast of Brazil on April 22, 1500. He claimed the land for Portugal and named it Ilha de Vera Cruz (Island of the True Cross).

He explored the coast for a few days, made contact with the local indigenous people, and sent one of his ships back to Portugal with the news of his discovery. He then resumed his voyage to India, where he established trade relations and diplomatic ties.

He returned to Portugal in 1501, having lost half of his fleet and many of his men. He was rewarded by the king with lands and titles, but he never sailed again. He died in Santarém, Portugal, in 1520.

Sugar cane and gold.

Sugar cane and gold were the main products that attracted the Portuguese colonizers to Brazil and made it a profitable colony for Portugal.

Sugar cane was introduced in Brazil by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. It was cultivated in large plantations along the coast, called engenhos, which had mills to process the cane into sugar. Sugar was exported to Europe and other markets, where it was in high demand.

Gold was discovered in Brazil in the late 17th century, in the region of Minas Gerais. It sparked a gold rush that attracted thousands of settlers, adventurers, and slaves to the interior of the colony. Gold was extracted from mines and rivers and sent to Portugal as a royal tax. Gold also stimulated the development of other economic activities, such as agriculture, cattle ranching, and commerce.

Both sugar cane and gold had a significant impact on the social, cultural, and environmental aspects of Brazil. They increased the demand for slave labor, which led to the importation of millions of Africans to work on the plantations and mines. They also influenced the formation of a diverse and complex society, composed of Europeans, Africans, indigenous people, and their mixed descendants. They also caused deforestation, soil erosion, pollution, and conflicts over land and resources.

African slaves.

African slaves were the main labor force in Brazil during the colonial period and the early years of the empire. They were brought from different regions of Africa, such as Angola, Congo, Guinea, and Mozambique, and sold to Portuguese traders and colonists.

They worked in harsh and brutal conditions on sugar cane plantations, gold mines, coffee farms, and other economic activities. They also performed domestic and urban services, such as cooking, cleaning, and crafts. They were subject to violence, abuse, and exploitation by their masters and overseers.

They resisted slavery in various ways, such as running away, forming communities of escaped slaves called quilombos, revolting against their oppressors, practicing their religions and cultures, and creating forms of art and expression, such as capoeira, samba, and candomblé.

They contributed to the formation of Brazilian society, culture, and identity, by mixing with other ethnic and racial groups, such as Europeans and indigenous people. They also influenced the language, cuisine, music, religion, and customs of Brazil.

Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, after a long and gradual process that involved legal reforms, social movements, and political pressures. It was the last country in the Americas to end slavery. However, the legacy of slavery still affects the lives of many Brazilians today, especially those of African descent.

Portuguese monarchy.

Portuguese monarchy refers to the period when Brazil was ruled by the kings and queens of Portugal, from 1500 to 1822. It was divided into two phases: the colonial era and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.

The colonial era lasted from 1500 to 1808, when Brazil was considered a colony of Portugal and had no political autonomy. It was governed by representatives of the Portuguese crown, such as governors-general, captains-general, and viceroys. It was also subject to the laws and regulations of the Portuguese empire, such as the exclusive trade with Portugal and the payment of taxes and tributes.

The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves lasted from 1808 to 1822, when Brazil became a kingdom equal to Portugal within a unified state. It was created by King João VI, who fled from Portugal to Brazil in 1807, escaping from Napoleon’s invasion. He established his court in Rio de Janeiro and transformed Brazil into the seat of the Portuguese monarchy. He also promoted political, economic, and cultural reforms that benefited Brazil, such as opening the ports to foreign trade, creating new institutions, and sponsoring arts and sciences.

The Portuguese monarchy ended in 1822, when Brazil declared its independence from Portugal, after a series of conflicts and tensions between Brazilian and Portuguese elites. The son of King João VI, Pedro, became the first emperor of Brazil.

Independence and empire.

Independence and empire refers to the period when Brazil became an independent nation and a constitutional monarchy, from 1822 to 1889. It was divided into two phases: the First Empire and the Second Empire.

The First Empire lasted from 1822 to 1831, when Brazil was ruled by Emperor Pedro I, the son of King João VI of Portugal. He proclaimed Brazil’s independence on September 7, 1822, after a series of conflicts and negotiations with Portugal. He faced many challenges, such as consolidating the national unity, fighting against foreign threats, and dealing with political and social unrest. He abdicated in 1831, in favor of his son Pedro II, who was only five years old at the time.

The Second Empire lasted from 1831 to 1889, when Brazil was ruled by Emperor Pedro II, the son of Pedro I. He assumed the throne in 1840, when he was 14 years old, and reigned for almost 50 years. He was a popular and respected ruler, who promoted stability, progress, and modernization in Brazil. He supported the development of education, culture, science, industry, agriculture, and infrastructure. He also defended the abolition of slavery and the freedom of expression. He was overthrown in 1889, by a military coup that established a republic in Brazil.

Constitutional monarchy and republic.

Constitutional monarchy and republic refers to the period when Brazil experimented with different forms of government, from 1889 to 1930. It was divided into two phases: the First Republic and the Second Republic.

The First Republic lasted from 1889 to 1930, when Brazil was a federal republic, with a presidential system and a bicameral legislature. It was also known as the Old Republic or the Coffee with Milk Republic, because it was dominated by the coffee-producing states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, which alternated in power. It was characterized by political and economic instability, social inequality, regional conflicts, and corruption. It also faced several challenges, such as the abolition of slavery, the immigration of Europeans and Asians, the urbanization and industrialization of the country, and the emergence of new social movements and ideologies.

The Second Republic lasted from 1930 to 1937, when Brazil was a provisional government, led by Getúlio Vargas, who came to power after a revolution that ended the First Republic. He implemented a series of reforms that aimed to modernize the country and improve the conditions of workers, such as creating a new constitution, a national minimum wage, a social security system, and a labor code. He also promoted nationalism, populism, and state intervention in the economy. He faced opposition from various sectors of society, such as the communists, the fascists, and the constitutionalists.

Dictatorship and democracy.

Dictatorship and democracy refers to the period when Brazil alternated between authoritarian and democratic regimes, from 1937 to 1985. It was divided into two phases: the Estado Novo and the Military Regime.

The Estado Novo lasted from 1937 to 1945, when Brazil was a dictatorship, led by Getúlio Vargas, who dissolved the congress, suspended the constitution, and banned political parties. He ruled with an iron fist, suppressing civil liberties, censoring the media, and persecuting his opponents. He also aligned Brazil with the Allies in World War II, sending troops to fight against the Axis powers in Italy. He was deposed in 1945, by a military coup that restored democracy in Brazil.

The Military Regime lasted from 1964 to 1985, when Brazil was a dictatorship, led by a series of generals, who seized power after a coup that overthrew the democratically elected president João Goulart. They ruled with violence, repression, and torture, violating human rights, banning political parties, and censoring the media. They also implemented a neoliberal economic model, that favored foreign capital, increased the external debt, and widened the social gap. They faced resistance from various sectors of society, such as students, workers, artists, intellectuals, and religious groups. They gradually lost support and legitimacy, and eventually agreed to a transition to democracy in Brazil.

contemporary Brazil.

Contemporary Brazil refers to the period when Brazil became a consolidated democracy and a global player, from 1985 to the present. It is divided into two phases: the New Republic and the Crisis and Change.

The New Republic lasted from 1985 to 2014, when Brazil was a federal republic, with a presidential system and a multiparty system. It was also known as the Sixth Republic or the Redemocratization. It was characterized by political and economic stability, social inclusion, and international recognition. It also faced several challenges, such as fighting against inflation, poverty, corruption, violence, and environmental degradation. It also witnessed the emergence of new actors and movements, such as the Workers’ Party, the Landless Workers’ Movement, and the Black Women’s March.

The Crisis and Change lasted from 2014 to the present, when Brazil faced a series of crises and transformations that affected its political, economic, and social spheres. It was marked by events such as the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, the Lava Jato corruption scandal, the recession and unemployment, the rise of the far-right, the election of President Jair Bolsonaro, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the environmental disasters. It also showed signs of resilience and hope, such as the mobilization of civil society, the diversity of candidates and voters, the development of science and technology, and the cultural creativity. +

The Vargas Era

The Vargas Era was a period in the history of Brazil between 1930 and 1945, when the country was governed by president Getúlio Vargas. He came to power after a revolution that ended the Old Republic and implemented a series of reforms that aimed to modernize the country and improve the conditions of workers. He also ruled as a dictator from 1937 to 1945, suppressing civil liberties, censoring the media, and persecuting his opponents. He aligned Brazil with the Allies in World War II, sending troops to fight against the Axis powers in Italy. He was deposed in 1945, by a military coup that restored democracy in Brazil.

Military dictatorship

The military dictatorship in Brazil was a period of authoritarian rule by the Brazilian Armed Forces, with support from the United States government, from 1964 to 1985². It was established after a coup d’état against President João Goulart, who was accused of being a communist sympathizer. It was characterized by violence, repression, and torture, violating human rights, banning political parties, and censoring the media. It also implemented a neoliberal economic model, that favored foreign capital, increased the external debt, and widened the social gap. It faced resistance from various sectors of society, such as students, workers, artists, intellectuals, and religious groups. It gradually lost support and legitimacy, and eventually agreed to a transition to democracy in Brazil.

Democratization and economic development

Democratization in Brazil was a process of political liberalization and social inclusion that took place from 1974 to 1988. It was initiated by the military regime itself, under pressure from domestic and international actors, who demanded more civil rights and political participation. It involved the restoration of direct elections, the legalization of political parties, the amnesty of political prisoners and exiles, the creation of a constituent assembly, and the drafting of a new constitution. It also involved the empowerment of local governments and communities, the expansion of social policies and programs, and the recognition of minority rights. It resulted in the consolidation of democracy and the emergence of new actors and movements in Brazil.