I was researching another story for my podcast (the story of the Nazi colony that was formed in Chile after World War II, when I also came across THIS story…and I knew I’d need to know more to eventually tell this story.
It’s the story of a group of US Confederate soldiers and their families who left the US for Brazil to start their lives over after their homes and lives were decimated by losing the Civil War.
They hopped on a ship to Sao Paolo, led by a former Colonel, and flush with MAJOR incentives by the Confederacy loving Emperor of Brazil, who wanted to turn Brazil into the world’s agricultural powerhouse and wanted American farmers to do that, they started over.
Like other enclaves, they didn’t isolate, they became Brazilian citizens and adapted (with a lot of effort) to life in Brazil.
Their town was called Santa Barbara, but it quickly became the Villa Americana, and later on just “Americana”.
And yes, they had slaves at first. Brazil wasn’t there…yet.
The town thrived, and now every year they throw a big party (they ARE in Brazil, of course) called the Festa Confederada…The townspeople and neighbors see it as a heritage festival. But the Confederate flags covering much of the event rub some Brazilians and many foreigners the wrong way, as they see it as celebrating the land of slavery and the KKK.
I invite you to check out the full podcast episode and make up your own mind…
Here are the links:
Spotify: [ Ссылка ]
Youtube: [ Ссылка ]
Apple: [ Ссылка ]
All the episodes: [ Ссылка ]
Follow and subscribe to the program, as we’re almost up to 60 episodes of myths, legends, history and mysteries from the Northern border of Mexico to the Southern tip of Argentina and all across the Caribbean Islands.
And if you have an idea for the podcast, drop me a line at andy@andycancun.com
Have a great weekend, y ¡saludos desde Cancún!
Andrew

#civilwarhistory #strangefacts

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