Brazil history is quite unique, and begins nearly 8,000 years ago. In modern times the history of Brazil includes several different types of government. Brazil has been a constitutional monarchy, known as the Empire of Brazil, as well as a military dictatorship and a federal republic.

Documentation of very early Brazil history begins with the entrance of the first indigenous people into Brazil. According to historians, these people entered the land we now know as Brazil via the Bering land bridge to cross Alaska and then continuing on into Central and North America.

Unfortunately, we know very little about the first indigenous inhabitants and tribes of Brazil, as they lived so long ago, and they didn't leave much behind for historians to see. There were no writings or permanent structures left behind to study.

It's a widely accepted notion that Brazil received its name from the brazilwood tree that was harvested there and traded in Europe by sailors.

Most historical accounts about Brazil history name Pedro Alvares Cabral, a Portuguese man, as the first person to discover the land of Brazil in 1500. It wasn't until 1531 however that actual settlers were sent to the country of Brazil.

Over the next several decades, the indigenous Indian tribes of Brazil were cut in half by colonizers and roaming opportunists entering the country and killing them as they went.

This is a very sad chapter in the history of Brazil. Those who were not murdered died from the diseases the outsiders brought into the country.

In 1531, King Joao III sent 400 settlers to the land of Brazil. The king decreed that Brazil's coastline be divided into 250km plots and ruled by captains appointed by the king.

A mere two of those groups survived the Indians, Dutch, and French and proved successful. The country of Brazil was a Portuguese colony throughout the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Beginning in 1550, slaves were brought from Africa to work Brazil's sugar cane fields. They were also used to work the gold mine fields for a time until the gold ran out. Thankfully, slavery in Brazil was abolished in 1888.

Coffee entered Brazil sometime in the early 1800s. Nine years later, coffee accounted for nearly 2/3 of Brazil's exports! By this time, sugar cane production had all but stopped, so coffee beans filled in the gaps in the Brazilian economy. The rubber tree was discovered in the late 1800s and became a significant export for Brazil by 1912.

On September 7, 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portuguese rule. The country became the Empire of Brazil and operated as a constitutional monarchy.

During this time, there were two rulers - Pedro I and Pedro II. Pedro I ruled as emperor from 1822 to 1831, at which time his five-year-old son became emperor and ruled from 1831 to 1889.

The year 1889 - a republican government was established as a result of a military coup. The man who led the coup, General Deodoro da Fonseca, was Brazil's first de facto president. Brazil's name was changed to the Republic of the United States of Brazil. The constitutional democracy in Brazil lasted from 1889 through 1930.

Getulio Vargas took power of the government via a military coup in 1930. He was dictator over Brazil through 1934. He was elected president by Congress in 1937 and ruled as such until 1945 at which time he was again a dictator.

The people of Brazil elected Vargas president in 1951 and he remained their president until he took his life in 1954. The country continued under a democratic government until 1964.

Another military coup in 1964 resulted in the military dictatorship over Brazil through 1985. The economy was almost completely destroyed and thousands of Brazilians were forced to leave the country or murdered during this time. Brazil's name changed in 1967 to Federative Republic of Brazil.

This traumatic time in Brazil history is relatively recent and there are still people alive today who lived through these terrible times.

We'd go to troca dineiro ("change money") to change our U.S. dollars to Brazilian currency and the values fluctuated so wildly that it was almost impossible to predict exactly what the money would be worth the next day! Soon after this they switched to the Brazilian Real, prounouced hay - al.

My husband is a musician and he absolutely loves Brazilian music. For this reason I have a special interest in the amazing and beautiful music created in Brazil. I will be devoting more to this topic soon!

How did the unique style of Brazilian music develop? The Jesuits brought music to the indigenous people of Brazil and what followed was a culturally rich history of musicians and composers. Throughout the years of Brazil history, many types of music were created and embraced despite the dictatorship rule that held the country in its grip for 21 years.

View the original article here

Brazil soccer players are not made, they are born. Ask most children what they want to be when they grow up and you will hear a variety of responses, like a doctor or policeman.

In Brazil, you will hear a common theme: they want to be a soccer player. It is seen by many as the way to escape from poverty, but only a few reach their dream. Their dedication and determination are what makes them great.

Brazil has seen an abundance of talent come up through the ranks to make the country the biggest winners in the history of soccer. Some of them have lent their talent to other European teams but they are still recognized as Brazil's players. Among those outstanding players are a few who are truly remarkable and will never be forgotten.

No list of names of Brazil soccer players would be complete without mentioning the person who is considered as the greatest player in the history of the game. Born Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, he became a legend not only in Brazil, but throughout the world of soccer. He came in second for the title of greatest player of the century.

Pele came from a poor family in Tres Coracos and was taught to play soccer by his father. He shined shoes to earn money as a teenager. He was discovered when he was only eleven years old and made his first goal in his first game when he was only sixteen. It was said then that he would be the greatest soccer player that ever lived.

At seventeen, he helped Brazil win its first World Cup by scoring two goals in the final game. He went on to help Brazil win more titles. He was known for his speed and ability to control the ball and the ability to shoot accurately with either foot or his head.

Manoel Francisco dos Santos was born on October 28, 1933 in Pau Grande, Brazil, Garrincha should never have been a soccer player, much less one of the great Brazil soccer players. He had problems with one of his feet and was almost crippled; his left leg was shorter than the right one and turned out while the right one turned inwards.

As with many young kids in Brazil, he played soccer throughout his childhood but he had no intention of becoming a professional player. By the time he was twenty, he was married with a child.

He had been signed as a youth to play for SC Pau Grande and was signed at twenty to play for Botafogo where he shined as an athlete. He played in the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, helping Brazil to win their first two titles.

Garrincha was plagued with alcohol problems, which led to him playing for many different teams in a short time after leaving Botafogo. His career ended in 1972; during his last years, he suffered problems in his marriage and finances. He died from liver disease when he was only forty-nine years old.

In spite of his problems and the lackluster status of his last years in soccer, Garrincha is still known as one of the great Brazil soccer players and as the boy who should never have been able to play.

Ronaldinho is one of the modern day greats in the list of Brazil's soccer players. His performance at the 2002 World Cup made him a household name to many outside Brazil who were unfamiliar with him.

Ronaldinho was born into a soccer family; his older brother played soccer for Gremio. He also joined the youth team with Gremio and had some excellent games where he drew the attention of the national squads.

After having issues with getting a work permit and a problem with his unfocused lifestyle, he was finally signed with Paris Saint German. After his performance in 2002, he got a contract offer from Barcelona. He won the player of the year award in 2004 and 2005 and still remains an outstanding player with the team.

Another current soccer player, Ronaldo has established a name for himself as one of the great athletes. He is currently playing with the Corinthians, but has been with several European teams.

Ronaldo was born in a poor neighborhood and he was named after the doctor who was present at his birth. As with many poor Brazilian children, he played soccer in the streets as his main source of recreation.

By the time he was fourteen, Ronaldo had made it to a youth team. He caught the eye of Jairzinho, who was a former World Cup player. He recommended young Ronaldo to Cruzeiro, where he played for one season and scored twelve goals in fourteen games. He went to PSV Eindhoven in 1994 and scored an impressive forty-two goals in forty-six appearances.

At seventeen, he played in his first World Cup, helping Brazil take another title. He continued to play with Eindhoven until he was noticed by Barcelona. His impressive goal-scoring continued and earned him player of the year in 1996. When he went to play with Milan, he again won the award in 1997.

After a long recovery from a knee injury, Ronaldo helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup title in 2002 and again won that year's Player of the Year award. He joined the Spanish team, the Real Madrid where he broke the record for most goals in a World Cup tournament by scoring fourteen goals.

After another knee injury, he ended up training with a Brazil team before signing with the Corinthians. He is recognized as one of the greatest Brazil soccer players of all time.

Soccer is more than a game to the people of Brazil; it is a way of life. It is a cause for celebration even when there is not much to celebrate. Great Brazil soccer players through history are the reason for the celebrations.

View the original article here

The Brazil government operates as a republican form of government also called a federative republic, or federation of states. The central government is the federation and the states are the subdivisions within that government that maintain or support the federation.

The federal or central government handles larger issues like monetary policy, national defense and security, and anything else that would affect the country as a whole. Issues such as education, road repairs, and taxes are handled at the local level by the individual states.

It's similar to the United States in that the federal government ultimately has the final say, but the states are granted control over areas of government that affect their stated directly.

The Federation of Brazil consists of 26 individual states and one federal district. The federal district, or Distrito Federal, is home to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The states are also called Federative Units.

Executive branch - president elected by the people for up to two 4-year long terms. The president is also referred to as the head of government and the chief of state

Chamber of Deputies - 513 members elected by the people for 8-year long terms that are staggered

Judicial - 11 people appointed to lifelong positions by the president. This branch of government is comprised of state, federal, and municipal courts.

Legislative - 81 members of the Senate elected to 8-year long terms that are staggered

There are 21 different political parties within the country of Brazil.

The president is the head of the federation and is elected by the people every 4 years. As of the Constitution of 1988, a presidential candidate must be a minimum of 35 years old, born and residing in Brazil, and be an elector.

He or she must also qualify to run for office, which means he or she has electoral rights. Lastly, the presidential candidate must be a member of an established political party considering that write-in candidates are not permitted on the ballot in Brazil.

The president's duties include commanding the Brazilian Armed Forces as their commander-in-chief, representing Brazil across the world, heading up the executive branch of the Brazil government, and appointing Cabinet members and judges to sit on the Supreme Federal Tribunal. The president can also put laws on the books as well.

The president's official title is the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil if the president is a man.

The current President of Brazil happens to be a woman, President Dilma Vana Rousseff. She is addressed with one of three titles of respect: President of the Republic, Her Excellency Madam President of the Republic, or Madam President.

President Rousseff took office in January 2011, succeeding her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

How did Brazil arrive at this form of government for their country?

1534 - divisions within Brazil were called hereditary captaincies, which were areas of land that merchants or Portuguese nobleman were permitted to lease in hopes of colonizing the country. The father would pass his land on to his son for several years until the king took that right away from the people.

16th century - the State of Brazil was divided into two states: Estado do Maranhao and Estado de Brazil

1580-1640 - land of South America was divided into royal captaincies, captaincies, and provinces. One person, monarch, ran the country.

1822 - all the captaincies were turned into provinces

1840 - two-party system with emperor

1889 - all provinces were then turned into states

1889-1930 - the constitution of Brazil, also referred to as Old Republic, the people elected a president, state governors, state legislators, a National Congress, and local state officials

1964 - military was in charge of Brazil government for 21 years. During this time, elections were still held for local/state government positions, but the federal ones were governed indirectly by the military.

1980- six political parties existed by this time

1985 - Brazil returned to civilian rule

In a nutshell, the Brazilian government has endured two periods of dictators, three periods of democratic rule, and six different constitutions since the year 1889. Voting is not a choice given to the people, but rather it is mandatory.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, affectionately known as Lula, was the most popular president of Brazil for many reasons. He came from literally nothing, shining shoes of the wealthy as a boy on the streets, to becoming president of an amazing country.

He served the two terms allowed by Brazil's constitution. During his time in office, he worked diligently to close the extremely wide economic gap between the poor and the rich of Brazil. His work endeared him to the people in a way that no other president has done.

Lula's chief-of-staff, affectionately called Dilma is now president of Brazil. She took office in January 2011 and plans to follow closely in the footsteps of her former boss by working hard to continue helping the poor of the country. The goal of Lula, and hopefully now Dilma, is to give the poor opportunities to make their lives better economically and at the same time, allow the rich of the country to continue to earn money by investing well.

Brazilians must have seen that Dilma was much like Lula, or else they would not have elected her to the office of president. They recognize the changes that Lula made in favor of the poorer people without penalizing the rich. They want that type of positive change to continue, so they made their voices heard by electing Dilma.

One of the biggest challenges facing Brazil's new president is to continue finding ways to close the gap between the classes of Brazil. Lula did a great job, but there is still more work to be done. It is now said that Lula's way became Brazil's way of life! That's how involved he became in the people of Brazil's lives.

View the original article here

The Samba dance Brazil style is a tradition, a custom, the heart and soul of the music and dance throughout the country. It's a Brazilian dance with roots going as far back as the 19th century.

Originally the Samba was a solo dance, but over the years there have been some partner Samba dances that have evolved in different areas of Brazil.

The popular Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro is known for the dancing of the Samba through the streets. It's a very quick dance with a lot of fun rhythm that naturally makes your feet and body want to move. Dancers who are proficient at dancing the Samba are called Sambistas. Samba de Gafieira - came onto the dance scene in popular Rio dance clubs called Gafieira, sometime around the 1940s. It's a combination of Maxixe and Polka elements along with some movements taken from the Argentine Tango. It's the most difficult style of Samba because it includes incredibly athletic movements. The steps are based on a short-short-long rhythm. Samba no pe - a basic Samba danced by a single person. The rhythm is a basic 2/4 time, but with three steps included in each measure of music. The body is straight and the steps are done with one leg at a time slightly bent. Tempo for this style of Samba is slow or fast. Samba Pagode - a more intimate Samba dance Brazil style - it's similar to the Samba de Gafieira, but it is slower moving with fewer athletic movements. It was first seen danced in the city of Sao Paulo. Samba Reggae - this Samba dance version originated in Bahia. It's danced to the rhythmic beats of Samba drums and is considered the most popular Samba style dance following Samba no pe. Samba de roda - danced to an orchestra rather than drums and is reminiscent of the capoeira, a dance that is traditionally associated with the ancient Afro-Brazilian capoeira dance. Clapping and singing too accompany this Samba dance. Samba Axe - solo version of Samba dance in Brazil that combines aerobic movements and the steps of the Samba no pe together in a specifically choreographed dance. It's a very energetic dance and tends to create a very excited and charged atmosphere. Samba rock - most often seen in Sao Paulo Latin nightclubs - a unique combination of different dance styles including Zouk-Lambada, Samba de Gafieira, Cuban salsa, and forro.

Rapid steps coming down on the quarter beats of the music along with a sensual rocking and swaying motion of the people dancing the Samba are the two distinctive characteristics of the Samba dance.

There is also a special movement called the Samba bounce action that is associated only with the Samba. It takes quite a bit of practice to master this step and make it appear effortless. It's a dance step that appears to originate through the knees and ankles and move the body effortlessly, and is the signature move of the Samba dance.

The steps attributed to the Samba include:

These basic footwork moves are centered on the three-step move that includes a knee lift and alternating feet moving in a fast-fast-slow rhythm. Sambistas make the moves appear effortless, as if their feet are simply floating across the floor. It's really something to see!

The end of the Samba dance Brazil style is signified by the dancers tossing their heads back dramatically and then putting their arms straight out from both sides of the body. That's how you know the Samba has finished!

The Samba dance originated in Brazil, so it has been part of their culture for many years. The Carnival celebrates the Samba each year, but even throughout the year, you can find the Samba danced in nightclubs, streets, and in backyards. The dance and the music are just a natural part of the Brazilian lifestyle and culture because it crosses the classes and it brings people together.

It is said that Samba connects everyone in Brazil because the poor and rich alike dance the Samba. Some people believe that Brazilian Samba is more important and more ingrained into Brazilian culture than even soccer!

View the original article here

Brazil history is quite unique, and begins nearly 8,000 years ago. In modern times the history of Brazil includes several different types of government. Brazil has been a constitutional monarchy, known as the Empire of Brazil, as well as a military dictatorship and a federal republic.

Documentation of very early Brazil history begins with the entrance of the first indigenous people into Brazil. According to historians, these people entered the land we now know as Brazil via the Bering land bridge to cross Alaska and then continuing on into Central and North America.

Unfortunately, we know very little about the first indigenous inhabitants and tribes of Brazil, as they lived so long ago, and they didn't leave much behind for historians to see. There were no writings or permanent structures left behind to study.

It's a widely accepted notion that Brazil received its name from the brazilwood tree that was harvested there and traded in Europe by sailors.

Most historical accounts about Brazil history name Pedro Alvares Cabral, a Portuguese man, as the first person to discover the land of Brazil in 1500. It wasn't until 1531 however that actual settlers were sent to the country of Brazil.

Over the next several decades, the indigenous Indian tribes of Brazil were cut in half by colonizers and roaming opportunists entering the country and killing them as they went.

This is a very sad chapter in the history of Brazil. Those who were not murdered died from the diseases the outsiders brought into the country.

In 1531, King Joao III sent 400 settlers to the land of Brazil. The king decreed that Brazil's coastline be divided into 250km plots and ruled by captains appointed by the king.

A mere two of those groups survived the Indians, Dutch, and French and proved successful. The country of Brazil was a Portuguese colony throughout the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Beginning in 1550, slaves were brought from Africa to work Brazil's sugar cane fields. They were also used to work the gold mine fields for a time until the gold ran out. Thankfully, slavery in Brazil was abolished in 1888.

Coffee entered Brazil sometime in the early 1800s. Nine years later, coffee accounted for nearly 2/3 of Brazil's exports! By this time, sugar cane production had all but stopped, so coffee beans filled in the gaps in the Brazilian economy. The rubber tree was discovered in the late 1800s and became a significant export for Brazil by 1912.

On September 7, 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portuguese rule. The country became the Empire of Brazil and operated as a constitutional monarchy.

During this time, there were two rulers - Pedro I and Pedro II. Pedro I ruled as emperor from 1822 to 1831, at which time his five-year-old son became emperor and ruled from 1831 to 1889.

The year 1889 - a republican government was established as a result of a military coup. The man who led the coup, General Deodoro da Fonseca, was Brazil's first de facto president. Brazil's name was changed to the Republic of the United States of Brazil. The constitutional democracy in Brazil lasted from 1889 through 1930.

Getulio Vargas took power of the government via a military coup in 1930. He was dictator over Brazil through 1934. He was elected president by Congress in 1937 and ruled as such until 1945 at which time he was again a dictator.

The people of Brazil elected Vargas president in 1951 and he remained their president until he took his life in 1954. The country continued under a democratic government until 1964.

Another military coup in 1964 resulted in the military dictatorship over Brazil through 1985. The economy was almost completely destroyed and thousands of Brazilians were forced to leave the country or murdered during this time. Brazil's name changed in 1967 to Federative Republic of Brazil.

This traumatic time in Brazil history is relatively recent and there are still people alive today who lived through these terrible times.

We'd go to troca dineiro ("change money") to change our U.S. dollars to Brazilian currency and the values fluctuated so wildly that it was almost impossible to predict exactly what the money would be worth the next day! Soon after this they switched to the Brazilian Real, prounouced hay - al.

My husband is a musician and he absolutely loves Brazilian music. For this reason I have a special interest in the amazing and beautiful music created in Brazil. I will be devoting more to this topic soon!

How did the unique style of Brazilian music develop? The Jesuits brought music to the indigenous people of Brazil and what followed was a culturally rich history of musicians and composers. Throughout the years of Brazil history, many types of music were created and embraced despite the dictatorship rule that held the country in its grip for 21 years.

View the original article here

The Samba dance Brazil style is a tradition, a custom, the heart and soul of the music and dance throughout the country. It's a Brazilian dance with roots going as far back as the 19th century.

Originally the Samba was a solo dance, but over the years there have been some partner Samba dances that have evolved in different areas of Brazil.

The popular Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro is known for the dancing of the Samba through the streets. It's a very quick dance with a lot of fun rhythm that naturally makes your feet and body want to move. Dancers who are proficient at dancing the Samba are called Sambistas. Samba de Gafieira - came onto the dance scene in popular Rio dance clubs called Gafieira, sometime around the 1940s. It's a combination of Maxixe and Polka elements along with some movements taken from the Argentine Tango. It's the most difficult style of Samba because it includes incredibly athletic movements. The steps are based on a short-short-long rhythm. Samba no pe - a basic Samba danced by a single person. The rhythm is a basic 2/4 time, but with three steps included in each measure of music. The body is straight and the steps are done with one leg at a time slightly bent. Tempo for this style of Samba is slow or fast. Samba Pagode - a more intimate Samba dance Brazil style - it's similar to the Samba de Gafieira, but it is slower moving with fewer athletic movements. It was first seen danced in the city of Sao Paulo. Samba Reggae - this Samba dance version originated in Bahia. It's danced to the rhythmic beats of Samba drums and is considered the most popular Samba style dance following Samba no pe. Samba de roda - danced to an orchestra rather than drums and is reminiscent of the capoeira, a dance that is traditionally associated with the ancient Afro-Brazilian capoeira dance. Clapping and singing too accompany this Samba dance. Samba Axe - solo version of Samba dance in Brazil that combines aerobic movements and the steps of the Samba no pe together in a specifically choreographed dance. It's a very energetic dance and tends to create a very excited and charged atmosphere. Samba rock - most often seen in Sao Paulo Latin nightclubs - a unique combination of different dance styles including Zouk-Lambada, Samba de Gafieira, Cuban salsa, and forro.

Rapid steps coming down on the quarter beats of the music along with a sensual rocking and swaying motion of the people dancing the Samba are the two distinctive characteristics of the Samba dance.

There is also a special movement called the Samba bounce action that is associated only with the Samba. It takes quite a bit of practice to master this step and make it appear effortless. It's a dance step that appears to originate through the knees and ankles and move the body effortlessly, and is the signature move of the Samba dance.

The steps attributed to the Samba include:

These basic footwork moves are centered on the three-step move that includes a knee lift and alternating feet moving in a fast-fast-slow rhythm. Sambistas make the moves appear effortless, as if their feet are simply floating across the floor. It's really something to see!

The end of the Samba dance Brazil style is signified by the dancers tossing their heads back dramatically and then putting their arms straight out from both sides of the body. That's how you know the Samba has finished!

The Samba dance originated in Brazil, so it has been part of their culture for many years. The Carnival celebrates the Samba each year, but even throughout the year, you can find the Samba danced in nightclubs, streets, and in backyards. The dance and the music are just a natural part of the Brazilian lifestyle and culture because it crosses the classes and it brings people together.

It is said that Samba connects everyone in Brazil because the poor and rich alike dance the Samba. Some people believe that Brazilian Samba is more important and more ingrained into Brazilian culture than even soccer!

View the original article here

The Brazil government operates as a republican form of government also called a federative republic, or federation of states. The central government is the federation and the states are the subdivisions within that government that maintain or support the federation.

The federal or central government handles larger issues like monetary policy, national defense and security, and anything else that would affect the country as a whole. Issues such as education, road repairs, and taxes are handled at the local level by the individual states.

It's similar to the United States in that the federal government ultimately has the final say, but the states are granted control over areas of government that affect their stated directly.

The Federation of Brazil consists of 26 individual states and one federal district. The federal district, or Distrito Federal, is home to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The states are also called Federative Units.

Executive branch - president elected by the people for up to two 4-year long terms. The president is also referred to as the head of government and the chief of state

Chamber of Deputies - 513 members elected by the people for 8-year long terms that are staggered

Judicial - 11 people appointed to lifelong positions by the president. This branch of government is comprised of state, federal, and municipal courts.

Legislative - 81 members of the Senate elected to 8-year long terms that are staggered

There are 21 different political parties within the country of Brazil.

The president is the head of the federation and is elected by the people every 4 years. As of the Constitution of 1988, a presidential candidate must be a minimum of 35 years old, born and residing in Brazil, and be an elector.

He or she must also qualify to run for office, which means he or she has electoral rights. Lastly, the presidential candidate must be a member of an established political party considering that write-in candidates are not permitted on the ballot in Brazil.

The president's duties include commanding the Brazilian Armed Forces as their commander-in-chief, representing Brazil across the world, heading up the executive branch of the Brazil government, and appointing Cabinet members and judges to sit on the Supreme Federal Tribunal. The president can also put laws on the books as well.

The president's official title is the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil if the president is a man.

The current President of Brazil happens to be a woman, President Dilma Vana Rousseff. She is addressed with one of three titles of respect: President of the Republic, Her Excellency Madam President of the Republic, or Madam President.

President Rousseff took office in January 2011, succeeding her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

How did Brazil arrive at this form of government for their country?

1534 - divisions within Brazil were called hereditary captaincies, which were areas of land that merchants or Portuguese nobleman were permitted to lease in hopes of colonizing the country. The father would pass his land on to his son for several years until the king took that right away from the people.

16th century - the State of Brazil was divided into two states: Estado do Maranhao and Estado de Brazil

1580-1640 - land of South America was divided into royal captaincies, captaincies, and provinces. One person, monarch, ran the country.

1822 - all the captaincies were turned into provinces

1840 - two-party system with emperor

1889 - all provinces were then turned into states

1889-1930 - the constitution of Brazil, also referred to as Old Republic, the people elected a president, state governors, state legislators, a National Congress, and local state officials

1964 - military was in charge of Brazil government for 21 years. During this time, elections were still held for local/state government positions, but the federal ones were governed indirectly by the military.

1980- six political parties existed by this time

1985 - Brazil returned to civilian rule

In a nutshell, the Brazilian government has endured two periods of dictators, three periods of democratic rule, and six different constitutions since the year 1889. Voting is not a choice given to the people, but rather it is mandatory.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, affectionately known as Lula, was the most popular president of Brazil for many reasons. He came from literally nothing, shining shoes of the wealthy as a boy on the streets, to becoming president of an amazing country.

He served the two terms allowed by Brazil's constitution. During his time in office, he worked diligently to close the extremely wide economic gap between the poor and the rich of Brazil. His work endeared him to the people in a way that no other president has done.

Lula's chief-of-staff, affectionately called Dilma is now president of Brazil. She took office in January 2011 and plans to follow closely in the footsteps of her former boss by working hard to continue helping the poor of the country. The goal of Lula, and hopefully now Dilma, is to give the poor opportunities to make their lives better economically and at the same time, allow the rich of the country to continue to earn money by investing well.

Brazilians must have seen that Dilma was much like Lula, or else they would not have elected her to the office of president. They recognize the changes that Lula made in favor of the poorer people without penalizing the rich. They want that type of positive change to continue, so they made their voices heard by electing Dilma.

One of the biggest challenges facing Brazil's new president is to continue finding ways to close the gap between the classes of Brazil. Lula did a great job, but there is still more work to be done. It is now said that Lula's way became Brazil's way of life! That's how involved he became in the people of Brazil's lives.

View the original article here

The Samba dance Brazil style is a tradition, a custom, the heart and soul of the music and dance throughout the country. It's a Brazilian dance with roots going as far back as the 19th century.

Originally the Samba was a solo dance, but over the years there have been some partner Samba dances that have evolved in different areas of Brazil.

The popular Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro is known for the dancing of the Samba through the streets. It's a very quick dance with a lot of fun rhythm that naturally makes your feet and body want to move. Dancers who are proficient at dancing the Samba are called Sambistas. Samba de Gafieira - came onto the dance scene in popular Rio dance clubs called Gafieira, sometime around the 1940s. It's a combination of Maxixe and Polka elements along with some movements taken from the Argentine Tango. It's the most difficult style of Samba because it includes incredibly athletic movements. The steps are based on a short-short-long rhythm. Samba no pe - a basic Samba danced by a single person. The rhythm is a basic 2/4 time, but with three steps included in each measure of music. The body is straight and the steps are done with one leg at a time slightly bent. Tempo for this style of Samba is slow or fast. Samba Pagode - a more intimate Samba dance Brazil style - it's similar to the Samba de Gafieira, but it is slower moving with fewer athletic movements. It was first seen danced in the city of Sao Paulo. Samba Reggae - this Samba dance version originated in Bahia. It's danced to the rhythmic beats of Samba drums and is considered the most popular Samba style dance following Samba no pe. Samba de roda - danced to an orchestra rather than drums and is reminiscent of the capoeira, a dance that is traditionally associated with the ancient Afro-Brazilian capoeira dance. Clapping and singing too accompany this Samba dance. Samba Axe - solo version of Samba dance in Brazil that combines aerobic movements and the steps of the Samba no pe together in a specifically choreographed dance. It's a very energetic dance and tends to create a very excited and charged atmosphere. Samba rock - most often seen in Sao Paulo Latin nightclubs - a unique combination of different dance styles including Zouk-Lambada, Samba de Gafieira, Cuban salsa, and forro.

Rapid steps coming down on the quarter beats of the music along with a sensual rocking and swaying motion of the people dancing the Samba are the two distinctive characteristics of the Samba dance.

There is also a special movement called the Samba bounce action that is associated only with the Samba. It takes quite a bit of practice to master this step and make it appear effortless. It's a dance step that appears to originate through the knees and ankles and move the body effortlessly, and is the signature move of the Samba dance.

The steps attributed to the Samba include:

These basic footwork moves are centered on the three-step move that includes a knee lift and alternating feet moving in a fast-fast-slow rhythm. Sambistas make the moves appear effortless, as if their feet are simply floating across the floor. It's really something to see!

The end of the Samba dance Brazil style is signified by the dancers tossing their heads back dramatically and then putting their arms straight out from both sides of the body. That's how you know the Samba has finished!

The Samba dance originated in Brazil, so it has been part of their culture for many years. The Carnival celebrates the Samba each year, but even throughout the year, you can find the Samba danced in nightclubs, streets, and in backyards. The dance and the music are just a natural part of the Brazilian lifestyle and culture because it crosses the classes and it brings people together.

It is said that Samba connects everyone in Brazil because the poor and rich alike dance the Samba. Some people believe that Brazilian Samba is more important and more ingrained into Brazilian culture than even soccer!

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The Brazil government operates as a republican form of government also called a federative republic, or federation of states. The central government is the federation and the states are the subdivisions within that government that maintain or support the federation.

The federal or central government handles larger issues like monetary policy, national defense and security, and anything else that would affect the country as a whole. Issues such as education, road repairs, and taxes are handled at the local level by the individual states.

It's similar to the United States in that the federal government ultimately has the final say, but the states are granted control over areas of government that affect their stated directly.

The Federation of Brazil consists of 26 individual states and one federal district. The federal district, or Distrito Federal, is home to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The states are also called Federative Units.

Executive branch - president elected by the people for up to two 4-year long terms. The president is also referred to as the head of government and the chief of state

Chamber of Deputies - 513 members elected by the people for 8-year long terms that are staggered

Judicial - 11 people appointed to lifelong positions by the president. This branch of government is comprised of state, federal, and municipal courts.

Legislative - 81 members of the Senate elected to 8-year long terms that are staggered

There are 21 different political parties within the country of Brazil.

The president is the head of the federation and is elected by the people every 4 years. As of the Constitution of 1988, a presidential candidate must be a minimum of 35 years old, born and residing in Brazil, and be an elector.

He or she must also qualify to run for office, which means he or she has electoral rights. Lastly, the presidential candidate must be a member of an established political party considering that write-in candidates are not permitted on the ballot in Brazil.

The president's duties include commanding the Brazilian Armed Forces as their commander-in-chief, representing Brazil across the world, heading up the executive branch of the Brazil government, and appointing Cabinet members and judges to sit on the Supreme Federal Tribunal. The president can also put laws on the books as well.

The president's official title is the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil if the president is a man.

The current President of Brazil happens to be a woman, President Dilma Vana Rousseff. She is addressed with one of three titles of respect: President of the Republic, Her Excellency Madam President of the Republic, or Madam President.

President Rousseff took office in January 2011, succeeding her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

How did Brazil arrive at this form of government for their country?

1534 - divisions within Brazil were called hereditary captaincies, which were areas of land that merchants or Portuguese nobleman were permitted to lease in hopes of colonizing the country. The father would pass his land on to his son for several years until the king took that right away from the people.

16th century - the State of Brazil was divided into two states: Estado do Maranhao and Estado de Brazil

1580-1640 - land of South America was divided into royal captaincies, captaincies, and provinces. One person, monarch, ran the country.

1822 - all the captaincies were turned into provinces

1840 - two-party system with emperor

1889 - all provinces were then turned into states

1889-1930 - the constitution of Brazil, also referred to as Old Republic, the people elected a president, state governors, state legislators, a National Congress, and local state officials

1964 - military was in charge of Brazil government for 21 years. During this time, elections were still held for local/state government positions, but the federal ones were governed indirectly by the military.

1980- six political parties existed by this time

1985 - Brazil returned to civilian rule

In a nutshell, the Brazilian government has endured two periods of dictators, three periods of democratic rule, and six different constitutions since the year 1889. Voting is not a choice given to the people, but rather it is mandatory.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, affectionately known as Lula, was the most popular president of Brazil for many reasons. He came from literally nothing, shining shoes of the wealthy as a boy on the streets, to becoming president of an amazing country.

He served the two terms allowed by Brazil's constitution. During his time in office, he worked diligently to close the extremely wide economic gap between the poor and the rich of Brazil. His work endeared him to the people in a way that no other president has done.

Lula's chief-of-staff, affectionately called Dilma is now president of Brazil. She took office in January 2011 and plans to follow closely in the footsteps of her former boss by working hard to continue helping the poor of the country. The goal of Lula, and hopefully now Dilma, is to give the poor opportunities to make their lives better economically and at the same time, allow the rich of the country to continue to earn money by investing well.

Brazilians must have seen that Dilma was much like Lula, or else they would not have elected her to the office of president. They recognize the changes that Lula made in favor of the poorer people without penalizing the rich. They want that type of positive change to continue, so they made their voices heard by electing Dilma.

One of the biggest challenges facing Brazil's new president is to continue finding ways to close the gap between the classes of Brazil. Lula did a great job, but there is still more work to be done. It is now said that Lula's way became Brazil's way of life! That's how involved he became in the people of Brazil's lives.

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The Samba dance Brazil style is a tradition, a custom, the heart and soul of the music and dance throughout the country. It's a Brazilian dance with roots going as far back as the 19th century.

Originally the Samba was a solo dance, but over the years there have been some partner Samba dances that have evolved in different areas of Brazil.

The popular Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro is known for the dancing of the Samba through the streets. It's a very quick dance with a lot of fun rhythm that naturally makes your feet and body want to move. Dancers who are proficient at dancing the Samba are called Sambistas. Samba de Gafieira - came onto the dance scene in popular Rio dance clubs called Gafieira, sometime around the 1940s. It's a combination of Maxixe and Polka elements along with some movements taken from the Argentine Tango. It's the most difficult style of Samba because it includes incredibly athletic movements. The steps are based on a short-short-long rhythm. Samba no pe - a basic Samba danced by a single person. The rhythm is a basic 2/4 time, but with three steps included in each measure of music. The body is straight and the steps are done with one leg at a time slightly bent. Tempo for this style of Samba is slow or fast. Samba Pagode - a more intimate Samba dance Brazil style - it's similar to the Samba de Gafieira, but it is slower moving with fewer athletic movements. It was first seen danced in the city of Sao Paulo. Samba Reggae - this Samba dance version originated in Bahia. It's danced to the rhythmic beats of Samba drums and is considered the most popular Samba style dance following Samba no pe. Samba de roda - danced to an orchestra rather than drums and is reminiscent of the capoeira, a dance that is traditionally associated with the ancient Afro-Brazilian capoeira dance. Clapping and singing too accompany this Samba dance. Samba Axe - solo version of Samba dance in Brazil that combines aerobic movements and the steps of the Samba no pe together in a specifically choreographed dance. It's a very energetic dance and tends to create a very excited and charged atmosphere. Samba rock - most often seen in Sao Paulo Latin nightclubs - a unique combination of different dance styles including Zouk-Lambada, Samba de Gafieira, Cuban salsa, and forro.

Rapid steps coming down on the quarter beats of the music along with a sensual rocking and swaying motion of the people dancing the Samba are the two distinctive characteristics of the Samba dance.

There is also a special movement called the Samba bounce action that is associated only with the Samba. It takes quite a bit of practice to master this step and make it appear effortless. It's a dance step that appears to originate through the knees and ankles and move the body effortlessly, and is the signature move of the Samba dance.

The steps attributed to the Samba include:

These basic footwork moves are centered on the three-step move that includes a knee lift and alternating feet moving in a fast-fast-slow rhythm. Sambistas make the moves appear effortless, as if their feet are simply floating across the floor. It's really something to see!

The end of the Samba dance Brazil style is signified by the dancers tossing their heads back dramatically and then putting their arms straight out from both sides of the body. That's how you know the Samba has finished!

The Samba dance originated in Brazil, so it has been part of their culture for many years. The Carnival celebrates the Samba each year, but even throughout the year, you can find the Samba danced in nightclubs, streets, and in backyards. The dance and the music are just a natural part of the Brazilian lifestyle and culture because it crosses the classes and it brings people together.

It is said that Samba connects everyone in Brazil because the poor and rich alike dance the Samba. Some people believe that Brazilian Samba is more important and more ingrained into Brazilian culture than even soccer!

View the original article here