Empire of Brazil

The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state in South America, existing from 1822 to 1889. It broadly comprised the territories of modern Brazil and Uruguay until Uruguay's independence in 1828. A former colony of Portugal, Brazil became the seat of the Portuguese Empire in 1808. On September 7, 1822, Pedro I declared Brazil's independence and became its first Emperor. The empire was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II. It experienced political stability, economic growth, and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech, though with restrictions on women and slaves. The empire was dissolved on November 15, 1889.