BrazilChapter 7

Section One Objectives• Students will understand that Brazil’s varied landforms contain

a wealth of natural resources• Students will understand that the Amazon Rain Forest strives

in Brazil’s climate• Students will understand that although most Brazilians live in

cities along the coast, there has been a steady migration inland

Physical Features• Brazil is the fifth largest

country in the world• Brazil’s best known physical

feature is the Amazon River• The Amazon carries more

water than any river in the world

• The flow of water is caused by the Amazon Basin

• The Amazon Basin is land drained by the Amazon River (2.7 million square feet)

Physical Features• Highlands cover most of Brazil.

They include the Guiana Highlands and the Brazilian Highlands.

• The highlands include savannas• A savanna is a parklike

landscape of grasslands and forests

• The Pantanal is in the west. This is a huge wetland area

• The Atlantic lowlands are on the Atlantic Coast

Climate and Land Use

• Brazil’s climate is tropical in the north with high temperatures and humidity all year round

• The climate is cooler in southern Brazil

• Climate also varies with elevation

• Crops, such as, coffee, oranges, and soybeans are grown in the coastal areas

Climate and Land Use• Cattle ranching is done in the

northeast because of the dry climate

• There are also ranches in the Brazilian Highlands along with mines that produce iron ore, bauxite, and gold

• Forests cover over half of Brazil producing rubber, palm oil, and timber. Logging is done throughout the Amazon basin

• There are many hydroelectric dams that produces electricity for Brazil and Paraguay (Itaipu Dam)

Ecosystems

• The rain forest shelters the largest variety of living species in the world

• Most of the animals are found in upper leaves of the rain forest tress called the canopy

• The canopy is like a leafy tent which prevents most of the sun’s rays from hitting the ground

• Seasonal flooding causes the forest and river ecosystems to merge

People in Brazil• Brazil’s largest city is Sao Paulo with

19 million people• Brazil’s second largest city is Rio de

Janeiro with 12 million people • People of European, African, and

Native American ancestries have mixed in Brazil

• Sao Paulo is the center of industrialization and finances

• Coastal cities are overcrowded , so the government built a new capital called Brasilia inland

People in Brazil • Business districts and richer

neighborhoods make up the city center and the outskirts are filled with slums called favelas

• Many people come to the favelas in search of jobs

• They have no paved roads, electricity, piped water supply, toilets, or sewers

• More than 14 million people live in the favelas

People in Brazil• The gap between rich and poor is one of the widest in the

world• Since 1980, poverty has increased by 50%• Brazilians of African ancestry suffer discrimination

Assessment• Complete p 315 (1-7)

Section 2 Objectives• Students will understand how Portuguese colonization

changed the human and physical geography of Brazil • Students will understand how the Portuguese introduced an

export economy based on the labor of enslaved Africans • Students will understand that for most of Brazil’s history, its

economy has experiences a series of export booms and busts

History of Brazil• Brazil was colonized by Portugal• Its people speak Portuguese• Brazil gained its independence

peacefullyCultures Meet• In 1500, the Portuguese first came

to Brazil• Native Americans lived throughout

the region• Portuguese established trading

posts in the northeast• They traded with Native Americans

for brazilwood, which produced red dye

Cultures Meet

• Brazilwood gave Brazil its name• The Portuguese set up and

export economy, or an economy based on exports

• Portuguese forced Native American into slavery to work on sugar plantations

• Most Native American fled or died

Africans Arrive• Africans replaced Native Americans • 3 out of 4 enslaved Africans ended up in Brazil• Slavery was outlawed in 1888• Brazil was under a system of mercantilism with Portugal

An Independent Brazil

• In 1807, the Portuguese royal family fled from French Napoleon to Brazil

• The king returned to Portugal in 1821, but his son Pedro I stayed

• Pedro I became the first emperor of Brazil

An Independent Brazil

• By the mid-1800’s, coffee became Brazil’s main export

• Coffee was the main product during the boom and bust cycle

• Boom and bust cycle is a period of strong economic growth followed by a period of sharp decline

The New Brazil• In the late 1800’s, Coffee

planters challenged the government and wanted a republic

• Abolitionist, or people who wanted to end slavery, were campaigning to free slaves

• In 1888, all slaves were freed• In 1889, Brazil’s military

staged a coup• A coup is an overthrow of the

government• A republic took the place of

an empire in Brazil

The New Brazil• New leaders formed a constitution

and elected a president• Some of the first leaders were know

as “coffee presidents”• During the Great Depression in

1929, coffee prices fell• In 1930, Getulio Vargas overthrew

the government, appealing to workers in the cities

• Encouraged manufacturing• Gave women voting rights• Ruled for 24 years

The New Brazil

• In the late 1900’s, dictators ruled Brazil

• Brasilia was made the new capital • People were arrested for speaking

against the government• Democracy was restored in 1990

Assessment• Complete p 319 (1-7)

Section 3 Objectives• Students will understand that a variety of ethnic groups have

contributed to Brazil’s rich culture• Students will understand that Brazil’s diversified economy

depends on manufacturing, agriculture, and trade• Students will understand that Brazil is struggling with

environmental problems, such as pollution and rain forest destruction

Brazil Today

• Almost half of Brazil’s people are of mixed racial ancestry

Carnival• Carnival is a festival, including seven

days of parades, music, and dance• Carnival is a blend of African and

European traditions• It is held before the Christian season

of Lent

Ethnic Groups

• African heritage is strong along Brazil’s northeast coast. This is where enslaved Africans first arrived

• Many Native American communities survive in the rain forest

• Most of the people in Brazil are Catholic

Environmental Issues• The Amazon’s ecosystem is being

destroyed because of humans cutting trees and damming rivers for hydroelectric power

• The president has imposed fines and has created conservation areas

• Brazil is using ethanol, which is a fuel that can be made from sugar cane, order to reduce its independence on petroleum

Environmental Issues

• Curitiba is considered a green city because of its careful urban planning

• Urban planning is the planning of a city

• Curitiba has reduced car traffic and trash

A Growing Economy

• Brazil has a market economy• A market economy is where

prices of goods are set by demand not by the government

• Brazil’s economy is diversified and has the largest economy in South America

A Growing Economy

• Brazil has many natural resources, including iron, manganese, tin, oil, natural gas, timber, rubber, diamonds, and gold

• Brazil is one of the biggest exporters of coffee along with sugar cane and soybeans

• Brazil is part of MERCOSUR

Government for the People

• The president heads the executive branch

• Two houses make of the legislature called National Congress

• The highest court is the Federal Supreme Court

• Minimum voting ages is 16

Government for the People

• Poverty is still widespread in Brazil• Many lack housing, education,

hospitals, and police and fire protection

• President Lula wants to put oil money into social services

• Social services are programs that are designed to help the poor

Dilma Rousseff