Editing Amapá (section)

==History==
During the colonial era from 1637 to 1654 the Amapá region was merged into the Captaincy of Pará, which was the [[Captaincy of Cabo de Norte]].<ref name="p"/> In the early colonial period the Amapá region was a rich source of [[wood|lumber]], [[resin]]s, [[annatto]], vegetable oils, and [[salted fish]], all of which were exported to Europe. The French established [[sugarcane]] plantations in this period.

[[File:Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José de Macapá.JPG|thumb|left|[[São José de Macapá]]]]
With the discovery of mineral deposits the Amapá region was invaded by the [[British colonization of the Americas|British]] and [[Dutch colonization of the Americas|Dutch]], who were ultimately repelled by the [[Portuguese colonization of the Americas|Portuguese]].<ref name="p"/> The [[Treaty of Utrecht]] in 1713 established the boundaries between the [[Colonial Brazil|colony of Brazil]] and [[French Guiana]], but these were not respected by the French. A fort was constructed at [[São José de Macapá]], in present-day Macapá, as a base of Portuguese power in the region.<ref name="p"/> In the 18th century, France retook control of the area. This international dispute continued until 1900.

The discovery of [[gold]] and the increasing value of [[Natural rubber|rubber]] on the international market during the 19th century increased the Portuguese population of Amapá, bringing the dispute with France to a head. Although French settlers had established the [[Republic of Independent Guyana]] (1886–1891), Brazil challenged the Amapá claim through international arbitration in Geneva on 1 December 1900, which was found in favour of Brazil. It was subsequently incorporated into the state of [[Pará]], as ''Araguari'' after the [[Araguari River (Amapá)|Araguari River]] and in 1943 this became the federal [[territory]] of Amapá.

The discovery of rich [[manganese]] deposits in [[Serra do Navio]] in 1945 revolutionized the local economy. Manganese remains the largest source of revenue in the state.<ref name="p"/> Amapá's move to statehood was made on 5 October 1988, at the time of the promulgation of the new [[Constitution of Brazil|Brazilian Constitution]], with the first state legislators taking office at the start of 1991.