Specials DIVERSITY EMPLOYERS MAGAZINE Spring 2011 - Anniversary Commemorative Issue

Brazil

Brazil is a South American country occupying nearly half the continent's land area. It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana; on the south by Uruguay; on the northwest by Colombia; and on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay.

Historians have estimated a population of about three million natives living in the Brazilian territory when the first white colonists arrived in 1500 AD.

Portugal began colonization almost immediately. The country was initially exploited for Brazilwood and sugarcane. Beginning in 1530 Portugal introduced the hereditary captaincy system for running the colony. They established settlements, such as the colonial capital, Salvador (1549), and Rio de Janeiro (1567), which grew into cities along the coast.

In the late 17th century gold and diamonds were discovered in Minas Gerais by Bandeirantes (private explorers) raiding the hinterland for natives to press into slave labor. Both Native Americans and Africans were used as slaves in Brazil. From the 16th century to the mid 19th century, over 10 million Africans survived the terrible sea voyage in slave ships to reach the Americas. Of this number, at least 4 million were sent to work in Brazil's plantations.

From 1808 to 1815 Brazil became the center of the Portuguese empire when the king's court was relocated to Rio de Janeiro in order to escape French emperor, Napoleon's troops who had invaded Portugal. From 1815 to 1825 Brazil was part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, which included Brazil and the Algarves, with capital at Lisbon. King João (John) VI returned to Portugal in 1821, but left Pedro, his heir-apparent, as regent of the Kingdom of Brazil.

Brazil was influenced by a new wave of independence movements in Latin America. Some members of the Portuguese parliament alienated Brazil even further by, among other things, attempting to return the country to colonial status. This put the regent, Pedro, in an awkward position. When the parliament in Portugal attempted to curtail his powers in Brazil, Pedro declared the independence of Brazil on September 7, 1822. He was crowned Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil on December 1, 1822. In 1825 Portugal recognized Brazil as an independent country.