Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Brazil.

An event of great interest to Americans was the overthrow of the Brazilian empire, the last monarchy in the New World, and the establishment of a republic in November 1889. A constitution was adopted, framed on the American model, and Fonseca was the first President. Brazil was included in the reciprocity arrangements of the Harrison administration. Peixoto succeeded as President in 1891, but the new republic has been disturbed by internal troubles. Most serious of these outbreaks was the revolt of the fleet under Admiral Mello in the summer of 1893, followed by the blockade of Rio de Janeiro by the insurgents. To supply the loss of vessels, the Brazilian government purchased a powerful merchantman, El Cid, plying between New York and New Orleans, transformed it in New York Harbor into the dynamite cruiser Nictheroy, and despatched it at the end of 1893 to the scene of action. Other vessels were purchased to cope with the strong naval force of Mello. The rebellion was not ended until June, 1895. M. de Moraes, who had meanwhile been elected President, granted full amnesty to all concerned in the revolt. In 1896 Brazil entered into a reciprocity treaty for trade with the United States.