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Monarchy overthrown, federal republic established with central government
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Republican Constitution
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Revolt places Getulio Vargas at head of provisional revolutionary government
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Vargas leads coup, rules as dictator with military backing
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Vargas ousted in military coup. New constitution returns power to states.
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Vargas elected president
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Vargas commits suicide after military gives him the options of resigning or being overthrown
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Juscelino Kubitschek is president
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Janio Quadros elected president, but resigns after several months. Succeeded by left-wing vice-president Joao Goulart
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Goulart ousted in bloodless coup, flees into exile. Military rule
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General Ernesto Geisel becomes president
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Tancredo Neves elected first civilian president in 21 years under the electoral college system set up by the military, but falls ill before he can be inaugurated and dies shortly afterwards. His vice president Jose Sarney becomes president
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New constitution reduces presidential powers
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Fernando Collor de Mello becomes first directly elected president since 1960.
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Collor resigns after being accused of corruption. Replaced by vice president Itamar Franco
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Fernando Henrique Cardoso elected president
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Constitution changed to allow president to run for re-election
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Cardoso re-elected
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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, wins presidential elections
Brazil's first left-wing government for more than 40 years -
President Lula is re-elected
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Dilma Rousseff, of President Lula's Workers' Party, wins second round run-off to become Brazil's first female president
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Dilma Rousseff reelected president
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Election commission reopens to investigate allegations that Rousseff misused funds during 2014 presidential election campaign