BRAZIL HISTORY |
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| Brazil had been inhabited for at least 6,000 years by semi-nomadic
populations when the first Portuguese explorers, Led by Pedro Álvares Cabral
disembarked on 1500. Over the next three centuries it was re-settled by
Portuguese and exploited mainly for brazilwood at first, and later for
sugarcane agriculture. Work on the colony was based on slavery. In 1808 King
João VI of Portugal, fleeing from Napoleon, relocated to Brazil with the
royal family , nobles and government. Though they returned in 1821, the
interlude led to the opening of commercial Ports to England - at the time
isolated from most European ports by Napoleon - and the "elevation" of
Brazil to the status of a United Kingdom to Portugal's Crown. In 1822 the
then prince-regent Dom Pedro I, declared independence on September 7, 1822,
establishing the independent Empire of Brazil. This lasted until the next
emperor, Dom Pedro II was deposed and a republican based federation was
established in November 15, 1889. |
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In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Brazil attracted over 5 million
European and Asian immigrants. That period also saw Brazil industrialise and
further expand into its interior. Brazilian democracy was replaced by
dictatorship three times — 1930–1934 and 1937–1945 under Getulio Vargas, and
1964–1985 under a succession of generals appointed by the military.
Brazil faces a deep economic and social crisis due to its huge national debt,
which consumes a disproportionate fraction of its GNP and is preventing much-needed
investment and economic growth. However, due to an increase in exports the
economy of Brazil are growing above expected in 2004 and the overall feeling
is optimistic for the year 2005. |
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