Brazil, the largest country in Latin America gained its independence from Portugal in 1822. Unlike most of the Latin American countries, Brazil did not fight a war of independence. Therefore, this country did not suffer the horrors of the liberation war but it was still ruled by a monarchical system of government. In 1889 Brazil became a republic and was ruled by a military government; this was preceded by the abolition of slavery in 1888. Brazilian coffee exporters ruled the country until 1930 when