NationStates Jolt Archive


Multitanna (Earth 1890)

Multitanna
09-12-2007, 21:30
Brazil

Population: 14,334,000
Geographical Location: Brazil, South America
Capital: Rio de Janeiro
Full Name: Republic of the United States of Brazil
Adjective: Brazilian
Language: Portugese
Main Religion: Catholocism
Currency: Brazilian real
President: Deodoro da Fonseca

Government
In 1889 military forces under the command of current president, Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca staged a successful coup against the Brazilian Monarchy and instituted a federal republic. However, the government is essentially controlled by the military and voting is restricted to wealthy landowners with less than 200,000 people eligible to vote.

Demographics
Brazil is a diverse nation with the government recognizing three main ethnic groups. The largest groups is made up of whites of European descent making up 43% of the population and are the richest and most powerful of the three groups. Mulattos and Indians are combined in one group and make up 41% of the population. Africans make up the thrid group and many are former slaves freed when slavery was abolished in 1888. They make up 16% of the population.

Military
Brazil's military is a conscript force of approximately 150,000 soldiers. The military has been well-supported for a non-European country due to its use in preventing revolts in the Brazilian provinces and the recent military take-over has only lead to a strengthening of the military.

Most Brazilian soldiers still use 1863 model Springfield muzzleloaded rifle. This weapon weighes in at 9.25 lbs, is 58.5 inches long. However, the military has begun transitioning to a French made breachloading the Chassepot. This rifle is about 9 lbs in weight and is 74 inchs long with a bayonet.

Chasspot (http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chassepot)

The Brazilian military is made up of 15, 10,000 man divisions of which currently 2 divisions have been armed with the Chassepot.

Artillery wise, The majority of Brazilian cannons are smooth-bore Napolean Cannons many bought from US military surplus after the end of the Civil War. However, again in an attempt to modernize, Brazil has been buying an increasing number of Hotchkiss breech loading cannons from France. Thus far, Brazil has approximately 3,200 Napoleons and 65 Hotchkiss guns.

Hotchkiss gun (http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_gun)
Napoleon Cannon (http://http://www.usa-civil-war.com/Civil_War/definitions_2.html#N)

Navy

The Brazilian navy is a small force mostly made up of coastal defense gunboats with a very small number of destroyers and one cruiser. Unlike the army, a strong drive to upgrade the navy does not exist currently.

Belem:
Coastal Gunboats: 7
Total Warships: 7

Salvador:
Coastal Gunboats: 11
Total Warships: 11

Rio de Janeiro:
Coastal Gunboats: 15
Destroyers: 3
Armoured Cruisers: 1
Total Warships: 19

Porto Alegre:
Coastal Gunboats: 15
Destoryers: 1
Total Warships: 16

Total Warships: 53
Ocean Going Warships: 5

Industry:
Brazilian industry is small and most industrial products are imported. A few textile plants have been founded and more industry could arise in the near future given the proper nuturing by the government.

Agriculture:
Agriculture still dominates the Brazilian economy. In particular, coffee is a huge export commodity for Brazil and much of the economy is centered around coffee production. Other significant Brazilian agricultural products include sugarcane, citrus plants, and a healthy beef industry mainly in the Brazilian Highlands.

Mineral Resources:
Brazil is rich in mineral resources such as precious gems, gold, and silver. Explotation of this mineral wealth has traditionally been very important to the Brazilian economy, but the rise of extensive coffee production has decreased the relative importance of these mineral riches.

Economy:
The disruption caused by the fall of the Monarchy has caused a recession in the economy. In all likelihood as stability fully returns to the country the economy will recover. Nevertheless, the Brazilian economy, while strong for a Latin American nation, is weak compared to the great industrial powers and heavily dependent on coffee production.

Religion:
The vast majority of Brazilians are adherents of the Catholic Church. Small numbers in the underdeveloped interior still hold to traditional beliefs and the inaccessibility of the interior has prevented any government desires to change this.

Transportation:
Transportation in Brazil is extremely underdeveloped. Dirt roads connect coastal cities but shipping is a more common form of transportation. Some railroads exist mainly linking the mining regions of the interior to the coastal cities. The integration of the rail network that currently exists has been significantly hampered by the use of varying rail gauges by the different railroad companies.

Politics:
Brazil is a federal republic with its states having less power than American states. A new constitution copies many of the forms of the Constitution of the United States of America, but restricts the vote more, introduces de facto noble titles, and leaves out many liberal principles found in the American consititution. The current president is Deodoro da Fonseca, a field marshal in the Brazilian military, and was elected in 1889. He faces major opposition from an obstructionist Congress and an ambitious vice-president, Floriano Peixoto.

Voting is restricted to rich, male landowners and the next election is to take place in 1894.