The Federative Republic of Brazil is South America's largest nation. It is led by President João Goulart, a left-wing nationalist and protegé of the country's former political kingmaker, Getulio Vargas. Brazil was once the Portuguese Empire's jewel in the crown, and even proclaimed itself an empire following independence, though a republic was established in the late 19th century. Brazil up until the rise of Vargas was an agrarian nation whose politics were dominated by landowners and the military, but during his presidency and period of highest influence, the country began to transition towards an industrial economy. In 1954, during Vargas' last presidential term, the Army tried to force him to resign. In response, Vargas shot himself in the heart, proclaiming through a suicide note that the Army's intentions went far beyond just meddling with the nation's affairs. His suicide was met with widespread riots, civil unrest and attacks on military outposts across the country, delaying a possible military coup for years. Besides internal tensions, Brazil's two main existential threats are Che Guevara's Revolt which is rampaging through the Amazonas, and the Republic of Neigeland, its southern neighbour for whom it competes over control of a wide region between Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil's South Region, which have conflicting ethnic compositions and interests.