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HISTORY OF RORAIMA

The history of discovery, occupation and colonization of the region that now forms the state of Roraima is directly linked to strategy and interest of the Portuguese crown to expand its territory in America, motivated by the discovery of gold, but also by the need to ensure their territorial supremacy , which was threatened by the invasion of Spanish, English, Dutch and French.

In this period the Portuguese had to accomplish their sovereignty, as a Dutchman, Nicholas Horstman started from the Dutch colony (now Suriname) on the coast and reached the Rio Branco and the Rio Negro, in 1741, confirming the existence of the Dutch intense transaction with the Indians through the Rio Branco and Rivers Tacutu and Jauaperi. Like the Dutch, the Spaniards invaded the Portuguese territory, coming from the Orinoco between 1771 and 1773, settling in Rio Uraricoera, where they founded the settlements of Santa Rosa, São João de Cada Cada Santa Barbara.

The story of Roraima is very recent, although the Rio Branco have been known and named in 1639 by Pedro Teixeira, was only in 1775, almost three centuries after the discovery of Brazil, that was built Forte São Joaquim, March consolidator of the Portuguese presence in the region.

The occupation of the territory took place from Indian villages between 1775 and 1777, this period were established five communities in Uraricoera Rivers, Branco and Tacutu, however, in the years 1780 and 1781 they were abandoned by the Indians, who did not accept the conditions imposed by the Portuguese. In 1784, there was another attempt at colonization by forming villages, where the Portuguese founded four new villages, but this attempt failed in 1790, marked the great rebellion of the natives, known as "Revolta da Praia de Sangue"(Uprising Blood Beach).

With this, the Portuguese crown changes in strategy and decides to effect settlement of Rio Branco, with the introduction of cattle on the banks of the Branco and Uraricoera River a process of expansion and colonization. The first farm was set up in Uraricoera River and was named Fazenda São Bento, was later founded the farm São Marcos in Tacutu River. This movement has created conditions that made possible the establishment of the Brazilians in the region and the foundation of the city of Boa Vista do Rio Branco, in 1890, belonging to the province of Sao Jose do Rio Negro, today the Amazon, the government of Augusto Ximeno Ville Roy.

After the founding of the city of Boa Vista, the central government of the province could not afford to invest in the development of the region, this fact led to the decline of the Forte São Joaquim and other villages that depended on it´s administration, the last commander of the fort was a corporal and not a captain or major as was customary.

During this period the region of Rio Branco received the first batch of migrants from the Northeast who came fleeing from the very dry season, or were part of Exército da Borracha.

(the rubber Army), after a long period of neglect the region is gaining new interest of the provincial government under the leadership of Eduardo Ribeiro , who hired Mr. Sebastião Diniz to open a path through the jungle on the route between Manaus and Boa Vista, which now represents the BR-174, this fact has made the migration flow and the region is now occupied by migrants from the Northeast, is the same time that settle in here the Benedictine monks, who then would be replaced by the Consolata Priest, the religious missions have made much contribution to the formation and development of the municipality such as: colleges São Jose Euclides da Cunha, The Cathedral Church, the Prelature and the hospital Nossa Senhora de Fátima which for many years served whites, blacks and Indians without distinction.

In 1943, in full World War II, the municipal of Rio Branco is emancipated for the category of the Federal Territory of Rio Branco, its first governor was Captain Ene Garcez dos Reis, under the government of President Getúlio Vargas, with the goal of occupying the areas of the Amazon, especially in border regions where in the past several incidents had occurred with other neighboring countries. In 1945, Vargas was deposed, and his place became president of the republic Gen. Eurico Gaspar Dutra who never showed enthusiasm for the federal territories, as well as others who followed him. From 1943 to 1964, the federal territory of Rio Branco, after the federal territory of Roraima has not achieved the expected development. It was during this period (1962) that there was a change of name for Território Federal de Roraima (Federal Territory of Roraima), due to confusion correspondence destination and even people who came to Roraima and ended up in Rio Branco the capital of the then Federal Territory of Acre.

The major thrust of territorial's development happened in the period 1964 to 1985, this period the governors were still appointed by the President of the Republic, when the country was under military revolutionary government, which had as its development strategy in the occupation of the Amazon, mainly strengthening of frontier regions, with the aim of providing national integration. In this period came the opening and conclusion of several federal highways in the Amazon with the intention of colonizing the region, among these were the BR-174 (Boa Vista - Manaus), BR-210 (Northern Perimeter), BR-401 (Boa Vista / Bonfim - Bonfim / Normandia), these roads encouraged the emergence of new tows and encouraged the migration process to Roraima, led by the Northeast. This was a time of great works of infrastructure in the territory.

From 1985 to 1990, the federal territory of Roraima has continued to be ruled by persons nominated by the President, even with the process of democratization of the country. This was the period of great population and large business development in the territory due to the opening of the mining of gold and other minerals, the International Airport of Boa Vista, became for several months the Brazilian airport with the largest number of takeoffs and landings.

In 1988, with the promulgation of the constitution, the federal territory of Roraima was elevated to the category of member state of the federation, its implementation takes place in January 1, 1991, when the first elected governor took the post, from 1991 to 1994, the state of Roraima lived a moment of great works of infrastructure for implementation of the government structure, with it came a new migration process, and began to lay the foundation for local development.