Portuguese colonization of the Americas by the general elections to its first "Câmara" (City Council) on August 22, 1532, is symbolically considered the birthplace of democracy in the Americas. From 1534 to 1536, 15 Captaincy colonies were created in Portuguese America. The captaincies were autonomous, and mostly private, colonies of the Portuguese Empire, each owned and run by a Captain-major. In 1549, due to their failure and limited success, the Captaincy Colonies of Brazil were united into the Governorate General of Brazil. The captaincy colonies were reorganized as provincial districts to the Governorate. The captaincies continued to be ruled by their hereditary captain-majors but they
Chinatowns in the Americas East Asia. Most Asian Latin Americans are of Cantonese and Hakka origin. Estimates widely vary on the number of Chinese Descendants in Latin America but it is at least 1.4 million and likely much greater than this. The oldest Chinatown in the Latin America is in Mexico City which dates back to at least the early 17th century. Two notable Chinatowns exist in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lima, Peru. Chinatowns in the Americas This article discusses Chinatowns in the Americas. The regions include: Canada, the United States, and Latin America. Chinatowns in Canada generally exist in the large cities. Calgary,