Brazil Becomes a Republic
On November 15, 1889, Brazil transitioned from a monarchy to a republic following a military coup that ousted Emperor Pedro II. This pivotal moment in Brazilian history marked the end of a period characterized by the autocratic rule of a lineage that had originated from Portuguese royal supporters of Brazilian independence in the 1820s. Brazil's colonial roots trace back to its discovery by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 and were defined by the exploitation of both indigenous populations and African slaves for labor, particularly in sugar and gold production.
By the late 19th century, rising discontent over slavery and social inequalities intensified, especially after the abolition of slavery in 1888. Additionally, Brazil's military suffered a loss in the War of the Triple Alliance, leading to growing dissent within its ranks against the monarchy. The coup that established the republic occurred during a time of political instability and dissatisfaction with the ruling elite, paving the way for a new governmental structure modeled after the United States Constitution. The transition was marked by significant social and political upheaval, reflecting the diverse perspectives within Brazilian society at the time.
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Brazil Becomes a Republic
Brazil Becomes a Republic
The nation of Brazil, one of the largest countries in the world and by far the largest in South America, became a republic on November 15, 1889, when a coup d'etat overthrew Emperor Pedro II.
Brazil was discovered on April 22, 1500, when the Portuguese navigator and explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral inadvertently landed on its northern coast during a trading mission to India. He thought that he had simply discovered a new island, which he named Terra da Vera Cruz (island of the true cross). Portugal was able to claim Brazil because it juts outward into the Portuguese section of the Atlantic determined by the Treaty of Tordesillas signed with Spain in 1494. Brazil itself was named after the brasile, a valuable hardwood tree that grew along the coastline and was prized for the red dye it produced.
By the 1570s much of the indigenous population—mostly of the Tupi-Guarani group of American Indian tribes—had died of European diseases such as smallpox. The Portuguese then began to import slaves from Africa to Brazil to work on sugar plantations and other agricultural enterprises that thrived upon forced labor. The discovery of gold in the late 17th century brought many new people to the southeastern region of Brazil, where the gold was located and made Brazil the most economically important colony in the Portuguese empire by the 18th century.
During the 18th century, Portugal declined in strength and attempted to hold on to its empire through increasingly oppressive measures. However, in the 1820s Brazil managed to achieve independence from Portugal, and came under the rule of a dynasty of self-proclaimed emperors until 1889. This monarchy had its roots in certain members of the Portuguese royal family who decided to support the cause of Brazilian independence. The newly independent nation now had two major political problems: not only was it an autocratic society, but it was a minority-ruled one. Owing to the Brazilian slave trade, facilitated by the country's proximity to West Africa where the Portuguese and their traders had been present for centuries, white settlers and plantation owners had become a minority in the population. They were outnumbered by the African slaves that they had imported and the slaves' descendants, even after the transatlantic Brazilian slave trade ended in 1850.
The issue of slavery created considerable unrest in Brazil during the late 19th century. It had become an integral social and economic part of Brazilian life, but support for abolition grew after the United States ended slavery following the American Civil War. There were limited reforms, such as the emancipation of slave children in 1871 and elderly slaves in 1885, but this did not stem the growing discontent within both the slave population and the Brazilian army which was responsible for preserving order. Further complicating the issue was Brazil's humiliating inability to defeat the relatively small neighboring nation of Paraguay during the War of the Triple Alliance of 1864–70. The Brazilian military blamed the monarchy, and dissent began to grow within the ranks of the officer corps, including the senior leadership.
During the late 1880s matters came to a head. The ailing Emperor Pedro II was unable to maintain effective control over the nation and needed medical treatment in Europe. Trying to resolve the slavery issue, on May 13, 1888, Princess Isabel emancipated the slaves in her father's name while he was absent and finally ended slavery. Nevertheless, this and other measures were too little and too late. A small band of military officers staged a coup on November 15, 1889, seizing power with little resistance. The royal family left Brazil for exile in Europe, and Brazil's first republic was established with a constitution based on that of the United States