Monarchy overthrown, federal republic established with central government
Republican Constitution
Revolt places Getulio Vargas at head of provisional revolutionary government
Vargas leads coup, rules as dictator with military backing
Vargas ousted in military coup. New constitution returns power to states.
Vargas elected president
Vargas commits suicide after military gives him the options of resigning or being overthrown
Juscelino Kubitschek is president
Janio Quadros elected president, but resigns after several months. Succeeded by left-wing vice-president Joao Goulart
Goulart ousted in bloodless coup, flees into exile. Military rule
General Ernesto Geisel becomes president
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
New constitution reduces presidential powers
Fernando Collor de Mello becomes first directly elected president since 1960.
Collor resigns after being accused of corruption. Replaced by vice president Itamar Franco
Fernando Henrique Cardoso elected president
Constitution changed to allow president to run for re-election
Cardoso re-elected
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
Dilma Rousseff, of President Lula's Workers' Party, wins second round run-off to become Brazil's first female president
Dilma Rousseff reelected president
Election commission reopens to investigate allegations that Rousseff misused funds during 2014 presidential election campaign