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Imperial Brazil Trivia Quiz

This quiz concerns the period in Brazil's history from September 7th 1822 (date of the independence) to November 15th 1889 (birth of the "Old Republic"). I am aware this is not a topic widely studied outside Brazil, so I've kept it simple.

A multiple-choice quiz by pedro3335. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
pedro3335

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
250,296

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1597

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. From which of these European countries did Brazil become independent on September 7th, 1822? Hint

Portugal

Spain

The Netherlands

France

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was it that, according to tradition, declared Brazilian independence upon a neighing white steed? Hint

Dom Jo�o VI

Sim�n Bol�var

Joaquim Jos� da Silva Xavier, a.k.a. "Tiradentes"

Dom Pedro I

3. On April 7th 1831, with his popularity suffering badly from the economic crisis caused by the Cisplatine War, foreign debt and the bankruptcy of the Banco do Brasil, Dom Pedro I abdicated in favor of his son, Dom Pedro II. What then happened? Hint

After months of political confusion and near-anarchy Dom Pedro I was called back by the Senate to regain the throne.

Dom Pedro II assumed the throne and reigned until his death.

Dom Pedro II was too young to assume the throne, so during some years a series of regents governed in his stead.

Civil war ensued, between factions favouring Dom Pedro II and those favouring a Republic.

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Question 4 of 10

4. One of the many regional revolts that took place during the 1830s was the Farroupilha, in the extreme south of the country. A man who would, many years later, be instrumental in the unification of a European country played an active role in this revolt. Who was he? Hint

Otto von Bismarck

Metternich

Napoleon III

Giuseppe Garibaldi

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Question 5 of 10

5. During the Brazilian Empire period, which of these was the most important crop, and the source of immense political clout and economic power for a small agricultural elite? Hint

Coffee

Tropical Fruit

Sugar Cane

Cotton

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Question 6 of 10

6. Slave labor was traditionally used for the cultivation of coffee during the Brazilian Empire. However, after the prohibition of slave trade (but not slave labor) planters brought in enormous contingents of European immigrants to work the fields. These 19th century immigrants helped forge modern Brazilian culture and their descendents represent a large portion of the population today. Which were the most numerous groups? Hint

Poles, Balts, Russians, Bulgarians & Romanians

Irish, Scots, Portuguese & Argentinians

Italians, Germans, Japanese, Spaniards & Portuguese

French, Dutch, Portuguese & Chinese

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Paraguay War (1864-1870) is, to this day, the war in which Brazil has had the most casualties. It was fought by Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina against Paraguay, with the objective of frustrating Paraguayan dictator Solano L�pez's expansionist ambitions. What was the main objective of the dictator's agressive policy? Hint

To attain more territory and influence in the economically invaluable Plate Basin.

To conquer hill country rich in nitrates, immensely valuable for its application in the manufacture of gunpowder.

To control the rich oil reserves in Uruguay and Venezuela.

To capture weapons of mass destruction in a preemptive strike and assure security for Paraguayans.

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Question 8 of 10

8. To pay for the expansion and equipment of their armies for the Paraguayan War the belligerent states contracted heavy debts with foreign banks. To which of these nations did the Brazilian Empire owe the most? Hint

The German Empire

The United States of America

Great Britain

Austria-Hungary

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Question 9 of 10

9. Sadly, Brazil was one of the last nations in the Americas to abolish slavery, on 13th May 1888. What is the name by which the abolition decree was known as? Hint

The Golden Law - "Lei Aurea"

The Black Law - "Lei Negra"

The Declaration of Emancipation - "Declara��o da Emancipa��o"

Brotherly Law - "Lei dos Irm�os"

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Brazilian Empire fell ,without any bloodshed, in 1889, and the Emperor Dom Pedro II was forced to leave the country. Many groups and often conflicting aims lay behind the proclamation of the Republic. Some of them are listed below. Which of these immediately followed (if temporarily) the end of the Empire? Hint

A government modelled after that of the USA, a federalist, presidential republic.

A centralised government headed by military leaders, under the influence of "positivist" ideas.

A parliamentary republic, an adaptation of the English government.

A centralised presidential republic, in which elegibility for the vote was determined by income, color and sex.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. From which of these European countries did Brazil become independent on September 7th, 1822?

Answer: Portugal

When the Portuguese Royal Family came to Brazil in 1808 fleeing Napoleon's invasion of their kingdom, Brazil became part of the "United Kingdom of Portugal, Algarve and Brazil", thus ceasing to be a colony. After the return of the Royal Family to Portugal, there was pressure from many factions to "re-colonize" the territories in South America, and to apply once more the strict regulations and taxes that had been revoked.

These measures caused extreme discontent in Brazil and were one of the main factors behind independence.

2. Who was it that, according to tradition, declared Brazilian independence upon a neighing white steed?

Answer: Dom Pedro I

Dom Pedro I, son of Portuguese King Dom Jo�o VI, was born in Portugal but came to Brazil as a child. Even though he became emperor of the newly born Brazilian Empire, he still played a significant role in Portuguese politics after 1822. He even interfered in the Portuguese Civil War (1828-1834) to ensure his daughter, Maria da Gl�ria, would be Queen of Portugal.

Answer: Dom Pedro II was too young to assume the throne, so during some years a series of regents governed in his stead.

The Regency, which lasted from 1831 to 1840, was one of the most agitated and violent periods of Brazilian history, regional revolts aiming for secession or social change exploded everywhere, and were all duly quelled by the central government. Dom Pedro II's legal majority was changed in an attempt to unify the country politically, and he assumed the throne at the age of fourteen.

Answer: Giuseppe Garibaldi

Garibaldi and his volunteer army of "Red Shirts" were one of the main forces responsible for the unification of Italy.

5. During the Brazilian Empire period, which of these was the most important crop, and the source of immense political clout and economic power for a small agricultural elite?

Answer: Coffee

The political power wielded by the "coffee barons" lasted well into the 20th century, being all-important in the Old Republic.

Answer: Italians, Germans, Japanese, Spaniards & Portuguese

S�o Paulo has today the biggest ethnic Japanese community outside Japan. In southern Brazil the influence of Italian & German cultures is extensive.

Answer: To attain more territory and influence in the economically invaluable Plate Basin.

Paraguay ultimately lost, along with the war, more than one third of its population and large swaths of territory to Brazil and Argentina. There was actually a 19th century war for nitrate reserves in South America, but it was fought by Bolivia and Peru against Chile, and was known as the Pacific War. Chile won and still holds territory conquered then.

Answer: Great Britain

The United States were not "united" for most of the war�s duration, as it was the height of the Civil War. Austria-Hungary was on the track of financial, military and institutional decline, having just lost the 1866 war with Prussia. The German Empire came into being the year after the war ended, 1871. Great Britain was at the height of its power and prosperity, with an Empire "on which the sun never set".

9. Sadly, Brazil was one of the last nations in the Americas to abolish slavery, on 13th May 1888. What is the name by which the abolition decree was known as?

Answer: The Golden Law - "Lei Aurea"

Many pressure groups fought a relentless struggle for emancipation: intellectuals, urban workers, students, escaped negroes, among others. The process was carried out without any immediate violence, though slavery left a horrific scar on Brazilian society. An it cost the Emperor the support of his main backers: the great south-eastern coffe planters, one of the many reasons for his fall.

Answer: A centralised government headed by military leaders, under the influence of "positivist" ideas.

The Brazilian Empire had its positive and negative aspects. On one hand, it kept the territorial integrity of the vast expanse of Portuguese America, while Spanish America shattered into numerous nations. It also provided the country with a reasonably administered bureaucracy and a stable central government. On the other hand, it allowed the miseries of slavery to extend almost to the close of the century, and deepened the gap between the privileged (mainly great landowners), and the underprivileged (most of the others in Brazil). For good or/and bad, it was a major force in the shaping of modern Brazil.

Source: Author pedro3335

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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