A Complicated Affair: History of U.S.-Brazil Relations |

The United States and Brazil have had a complicated relationship from the outset of their coexistence. Bound together by multiple similarities, like their continental size in the Americas, history of slavery and colonialism, and diversity of ethnicities, there are nonetheless many differences between the two countries. There is also a significant unevenness in the balance of power between Brazil and the United States. This has meant that even if leaders from both countries have at times been eager to establish deeper partnerships and understanding, they have faced roadblocks in the form of clashing interests and world views. To understand this complicated affair, it’s necessary to dive into the different periods of this relationship and understand the incentives, leaders, and world conditions that shaped this history. The following links are meant to be used as an educational resource for courses that engage with this topic. We imagine a course divided into 16 weeks, each bringing a topic and selected readings and documents to help inform class discussions. Resources are available in both English and Portuguese, by clicking in the language switch button on the top of this page.

Week 1 – The Monroe Doctrine and the U.S. Recognition of Independent Brazil

Week 2 – Brazilian Slave Rebellions, Abolitionists, and the U.S. Civil War

Week 3 – Confederados, and Growing U.S. Influences in Brazil

Week 4 – The New Republic and the Beginning of Anglo-U.S. Disputes in Brazil

Week 5 – World War I and the Great Depression

Week 6 – Brazil, the United States, and World War II

Week 7 – Vargas, Eisenhower, Kubitschek, and the Cold War

Week 8 – Goulart, Gordon, and the 1964 Coup d’État

Week 9 – The Alliance for Progress

Week 10 – The Military’s Foreign Policies and the United States

Week 11 – Open the Archives Workshop

Week 12 – Culture, Human Rights, and Grassroots Foreign Policy