The Capitals of BrazilThe Capitals of BrazilPL SC 422PL SC 422

By: Emily Curran, Danielle By: Emily Curran, Danielle Hanna, Kathryn Mattes and Hanna, Kathryn Mattes and

Gregory SpeirsGregory Speirs

Salvador – The First CapitalSalvador – The First Capital

SSão Salvador or Bahiaão Salvador or Bahia Bahia de Todos os Bahia de Todos os

SantosSantos– ““Bay of All Saints”Bay of All Saints”

– Named by Amerigo Named by Amerigo Vespucci in 1501Vespucci in 1501

Early HistoryEarly History

Founded in 1549 Founded in 1549 by Tomby Tomé de Souzaé de Souza– First governor-First governor-

generalgeneral– Palácio Rio BrancoPalácio Rio Branco

Captured by Dutch Captured by Dutch forces in 1624forces in 1624– Retaken the Retaken the

following yearfollowing year

Salvador as the First Colonial Salvador as the First Colonial CapitalCapital

Quickly became the main sea portQuickly became the main sea port Important center of the sugar Important center of the sugar

industry and the slave tradeindustry and the slave trade Divided into upper and lower cityDivided into upper and lower city

– Upper city: administrative and religious, Upper city: administrative and religious, as well as living areasas well as living areas

– Lower city: financial, port and marketLower city: financial, port and market Heavy influence of the Catholic Heavy influence of the Catholic

ChurchChurch

The Capital MovesThe Capital Moves

Salvador remained the capital until Salvador remained the capital until 17631763

New location: Rio de JaneiroNew location: Rio de Janeiro– Discovery of gold makes Rio a much Discovery of gold makes Rio a much

more useful portmore useful port– Salvador was much farther to the northSalvador was much farther to the north

Rio de Janeiro – Rio de Janeiro – River of JanuaryRiver of January

““River of January”River of January” Founded in 1565 by Founded in 1565 by Portuguese knight, Portuguese knight, Estacio de SaEstacio de Sa

Named after Named after St Sebastian of the St Sebastian of the January 20th RiverJanuary 20th River

Desirable Location Desirable Location Second largest city in Brazil (behind Sao Paulo)Second largest city in Brazil (behind Sao Paulo) The city was developed as a military base The city was developed as a military base

against the French and even after their expulsion against the French and even after their expulsion was frequently attacked. was frequently attacked.

The city was built and expanded along the The city was built and expanded along the mountains and expanded southwards and mountains and expanded southwards and westwards which it continues to do to this day. westwards which it continues to do to this day.

Getting StartedGetting Started

There were many fortress castles built on the There were many fortress castles built on the mountains that are still there. mountains that are still there.

The first main industry of the city was sugar-cane. The first main industry of the city was sugar-cane. Began to thrive in the beginning of the 18Began to thrive in the beginning of the 18thth

century century – Neighboring state found gold and diamonds.Neighboring state found gold and diamonds.– Needed Rio to transport these minerals as they Needed Rio to transport these minerals as they

were the closest port.  were the closest port.  

A New A New AdministrativeAdministrative Capital Capital

Rio overtook Salvador Rio overtook Salvador in exporting wealthin exporting wealth 1763, city of Rio 1763, city of Rio Became the only Became the only administrative capital administrative capital of Brazilof Brazil

Remained primary Remained primary

colonial capital until colonial capital until

18081808

Rio EnduresRio Endures Napoleon invades Portugal in 1808Napoleon invades Portugal in 1808 Portuguese Royal Family escapes from Portuguese Royal Family escapes from

Napoleon’s invasion by boarding ship from Lisbon Napoleon’s invasion by boarding ship from Lisbon to Rio in the nightto Rio in the night

King moves entire court to Rio de JaneiroKing moves entire court to Rio de Janeiro– Coastal defenseCoastal defense

Brazil gains independence in 1822, Rio becomes Brazil gains independence in 1822, Rio becomes officialofficial capital of Portuguese Empire capital of Portuguese Empire

Brazil’s change from a monarchy to a republic did Brazil’s change from a monarchy to a republic did not change Rio’s capital statusnot change Rio’s capital status

Problems with Rio as CapitalProblems with Rio as Capital Too exposed to maritime raidsToo exposed to maritime raids

Wanted transfer capital from peripheral coast Wanted transfer capital from peripheral coast to more central Midwestern interiorto more central Midwestern interior

Failed to stimulate Failed to stimulate EmploymentEmployment

Not taken seriouslyNot taken seriously Luxury beachesLuxury beaches Party townParty town Glitz and glamourGlitz and glamour Favela violence, Favela violence, narcotics tradenarcotics trade

Violence in RioViolence in Rio

 Despite its charm and beauty, Rio is reputed to be one of the most violent cities in the world.

Much of the violent crime is concentrated in the favelas or shantytowns but it also spills into middle- and upper-income neighborhoods.

Promise to move capital made in Brazil’s Promise to move capital made in Brazil’s constitutionconstitution

Juscelino KubitschekJuscelino Kubitschek elected president elected president in 1955 in 1955

Don BoscoDon Boscopromises to build promises to build

a new capitala new capital considered a considered a

campaign ploycampaign ploy

Planned and developed in 1956Planned and developed in 1956 720 miles from Rio720 miles from Rio Lucio Costa: plannerLucio Costa: planner Oscar Niemeyer: architectOscar Niemeyer: architect ““Athens Charter”Athens Charter” Built in 41 monthsBuilt in 41 months Large InvestmentLarge Investment Costa’s original urban Costa’s original urban concept pointed to the concept pointed to the shape of a crossshape of a cross

Located in the Central West region of Located in the Central West region of Brazil along Brazil along Planalto CentralPlanalto Central

Commonly known as Capital Federal Commonly known as Capital Federal or Capital de Esperanca, “Capital of or Capital de Esperanca, “Capital of Hope”Hope”

Home to all 3 branches of the Brazilian Home to all 3 branches of the Brazilian governmentgovernment

Formally declared Brazil’s new capital Formally declared Brazil’s new capital in 1960in 1960

Intended as a city for government authorities and Intended as a city for government authorities and staffstaff

During construction period Brazilians from all During construction period Brazilians from all over the country migrated to Brasiliaover the country migrated to Brasilia– Most from Northern and Northeastern regionsMost from Northern and Northeastern regions– Migrants called “Candangos”Migrants called “Candangos”– Supposed to go home when city finished, most Supposed to go home when city finished, most

stayed seeing an opportunity for a better lifestayed seeing an opportunity for a better life

Juscelino Kubitschek’s plan to make Brazil grow in his 5 year term as much as the previous 50 years

Term marked by “relative” economic prosperityOptimism was inspiring to citizens

Industry:Industry:– Steel, auto, shipbuildingSteel, auto, shipbuilding– Machine and tool industriesMachine and tool industries– Electric power and transportElectric power and transport

Founded Brazil’s Founded Brazil’s automotive industryautomotive industry

– invited manufacturersinvited manufacturers to Brazilto Brazil– opened highwaysopened highways

““Fifty years of inflation in five”Fifty years of inflation in five”– Extensive foreign investment and Extensive foreign investment and

declining revenue from exports declining revenue from exports triggered inflationtriggered inflation

– IMF involvementIMF involvement Despite these issues JK’s term Despite these issues JK’s term

undoubtedly inspired economic undoubtedly inspired economic prosperity and political stabilityprosperity and political stability– Led the way for subsequent regimesLed the way for subsequent regimes

A greater perspectiveA greater perspective

ArchitectureArchitecture

1957 Brasilia1957 Brasilia

2008 Brasila2008 Brasila

•Belem-Brasila Highway

•“The Pilot Plan”

•Lucia Costa

The Brazilian CathedralThe Brazilian Cathedral

Designed by Oscar NiemeyerDesigned by Oscar Niemeyer Updated in 1988Updated in 1988 Major ChurchesMajor Churches

– Military CathedralMilitary Cathedral– Dom Busco sanctuaryDom Busco sanctuary– Igrejinha Igrejinha

Catetinho: The first Presidential Catetinho: The first Presidential ResidenceResidence

Palacio de Alvorada: The current official residence of the President

Cultural Complex of the Cultural Complex of the RepublicRepublic

Dois Candangos MonumentDois Candangos Monument

Juscelino Kubitsheck Bridge Juscelino Kubitsheck Bridge 20022002

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Can you think of any other situations Can you think of any other situations where capitals have change based where capitals have change based on economic reasons as opposed to on economic reasons as opposed to political ones?political ones?

Do you think the geography of a Do you think the geography of a capital affects the government's capital affects the government's ability to run effectively? In what ability to run effectively? In what ways?ways?