User:Fmarcovski/History of the Industrialization of Brazil

Industrialization in Brazil can be divided into four main periods: the first period, from 1785 to 1808, named "Prohibition;: the second period, from 1808 to 1930, named "Implementation"; the third period, from 1930 to 1956, known as the Brazilian Industrial Revolution, and the fourth period, after 1956, known as the internationalization of the Brazilian economy. After the 1980s, the deindustrialization of Brazil began.

First Period (1785 - 1808): Prohibition
At this time, there were restrictions to the development of industrial activities in Brazil. Only small industries for domestic use were permitted, due to the distances between Portugal and Brazil. Those were mainly for textiles and shoes.

By the second half of the 1700s, some industries began to grow, such as the one of marble and textiles. Portugal had already developed these industries, giving thus rise to competition with the commerce of the Portuguese court, which could make the colony financially independent, thus leading to the possibility of political independence. Thus, on January 5th, 1785, Maria I signed a law abolishing all textile manufacture industries in the colony, except those for rags for the use of workers and slaves

Second period (1808 - 1930): implementation
In 1808 with the arrival of the Portuguese royal family to Brazil, D. João VI revoked that law, and opened Brazilian ports to international commerce and imposed tax rates of 24% for imported products, 15% for English products, and 16% for Portuguese products.

In 1810, through a commercial contract with England, a tax rate of 15% was established for English products for 15 years. During this time, the Brazilian industrial development was minimal due to the strong competition with English products which, in addition to being of a better quality, were also cheaper.

In 1828, the protective measures were reestablished, with the imposition of tax rate of 16% for foreign products, now with all countries, without exception. However, this tax was still insufficient to promote the industrial development of the country.