Brazil

Discovered

Apr 29, 1500

In 1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered current day Brazil and claimed it for Portugal. Interestingly, to end a dispute over Spanish/Portuguese claims of South America a line was drawn down what they thought was the middle of the continent, giving Portugal the eastern half and Spain the western half.

Joao VI moves to Brazil

Jan 22, 1808

WIth the French armies under Napoleon already in Spain and rapidly making their way towards Portugal, the royal family made the decision to flee the country, move to Brazil, changing its status from colony to a legit part of the Portuguese nation, and relocation the capital of Portugal to Salvador, Brazil.

Independencce

Apr 29, 1822

When King Joao VI left Brazil and went back home to Portugal he left his son Pedro in charge who in turn fought and won independendce for Brazil

Slavery is Abolished

Apr 29, 1888

In 1888 Brazil abolished slavery making it the last country in the western hemisphere to do so.

The Military Seizes Power/Revolution

Apr 30, 1964

Frustrated by both economic inequality that exisited between the wealthy plantation owners and the middle class/military officers and the political stagnation, the tenetes overthrew the government. In doing so the actually did a lot of good with the economy but no much changed on the political stage.

MERCOSUL

Apr 30, 1991

MERCOSUR (MERCOSUL in Portuguese) was created in 1991 as an FTA between Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina making it the largest and most successful form of economic integration in South America.