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Brazil gains its independence from Portugal in the year 1822. They struggled to become a democracy, and after this event, they became a monarchy.
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After many years as a monarchy, Brazil established a republican government. This was controlled by a wealthy elite.
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After the Mexican revolution, the government passed a constitution in 1917 that outlined democracy and promised reforms. This also improved military involvement in politics.
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Rather than electing military dictators to lead, Mexican government was based upon a ruling party. The first was the National Revolutionary Party.
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Getulio Vargas became the dictator of Brazil. He suppressed opposition and promoted economic growth. He turned Brazil to a modern industrial nation.
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Ruling from 1934-1940, President Lazaro Cardenas attempted to improve the life of the working class and peasants. He promoted labor rights and did land reforms. Along with that, he eliminated foreign oil companies and nationalized the Mexican oil industry,
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In 1946 the main political party changed its name to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (or PRI for short). This became the main political stability group in Mexico. The PRI controlled the congress and won all of the presidential elections. Under this rule, Mexico still suffered economic problems.
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In 1956-1961 Juscelino Kubitschek became Brazilian president and promised "50 years of change in 5." He encouraged foreign investment and built a new capital. This caused foreign debt and rising inflation. This brought reform.
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In the ancient Aztec market in Mexico City, a protest turned to a massacre. This massacre ended the lives of hundreds of protestors. The protest was to promote the rights of workers and demand political and economical change.
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In the 1980's Brazil's economy was stopped by a recession. This brought the decision to open the political system up. Elections of the local, state, and national officials took place.
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Jose Sarney was elected in 1985 as the first president chosen by the people. He decided that all future presidents would be elected by strictly the people. His efforts in resolving the country's problems failed and he lost all support. The next president after him also failed and resigned due to corruption charges.
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Elected in 1994, and then again in 1998, Fernando Henrique Cardosa led Brazil further on the path to democracy. He solved a majority of Brazil's economic and political problems.
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Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and lifted the trade ban between Mexico and the US. This caused an uprising and Salinas was gunned down by an assasin.
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After 71 years of rule, the PRI lost the 2000 election when the public chose center-right party canidate Vicente Fox Quesada as president of Mexico
