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In 1549, Tomé de Sousa sailed to Brazil to establish a central government
De Sousa brought along Jesuits, who set up missions, saved many natives from slavery, studied native languages, and converted many natives to Roman Catholicism. -
In 1555 French forces occupy Rio de Janeiro harbor
Two years later, Portugal regains control and establishes the city of Rio de Janeiro. -
The first sugarcane farms were established
At first, the Portuguese tried to enslave the native population. While slavery has ended, Brazil is still the largest sugarcane producer in the world today. -
Dutch withdraw from Brazil
Starting in the late 1500’s, the Dutch began some commercial sugar production in the Brazilian Northeast.
From 1630-1654 they set up permanently in Recife and controlled large stretches of Brazil
After several years of war with Portuguese the Dutch withdrew. -
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1705 – Portugal gives up Colonia do Sacramento in the Treaty of Utrecht (aka Spanish Succession) -
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The Minas Conspiracy was a group inspired by the U.S. Revolution. These Brazilians wanted to become independent of Portugal. Sadly they failed. -
King John VI flees to Brazil with his family including his son Pedro. -
1815 – Brazil becomes part of the Portuguese Kingdom called: The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. -
1822 – Pedro I declares Brazil Independent from Portugal.
Pedro refused to obey the Cortes.
He said: “Tell the people that I am staying.” -
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