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Acre is a state of Brazil, located in the north-western part of the country. To the north is the state of Amazonas, to the east is a short border with the state of Rondônia, to the south is Bolivia and to the west is the Ucayali Region of Peru. History
Some people on hearing the name "Acre" think it is derived from Akko the last of the historical Crusader states of Palestine, and others speculate that it is a corruption of the word Jacarés, the name of a local river ("alligator"); however, historical evidence shows that the name originates from the local native word Akiri. The territory was assigned to Bolivia in 1867 by the Treaty of Ayacucho with Brazil. In 1899-1900 Luiz Galvez Rodrigues de Aria led an expedition that sought to seize control of what is now Acre from Bolivia. He declared himself president of the first Republic of Acre on July 14 1899. That first republic lasted until March 1900. In spite of a second attempt at creating an Acre Republic (November 1900 - December 24 1900), Acre remained part of Bolivia until 1903. On January 27 1903 a Brazilian soldier, José Plácido de Castro, who was sent to Acre by Governor Neri of Amazonas, declared the Third Republic of Acre. President Rodrigues Alves of Brazil, with the backing of his most able minister Barão do Rio Branco, ordered Brazilian troops into Northern Acre. It should be noted that for years Acre had been overrun by Brazilians, who made up 99% of the population. After negotiations a treaty was signed. The Treaty of Petrópolis, which was signed on November 11 1903, gave Brazil Acre (191,000 km2) in exchange for lands in Mato Grosso, payment of two million pounds sterling and an undertaking to construct the Madeira-Mamoré railroad that would allow Bolivia access to the outside world. On February 25, 1904 it was officially made a federal territory of Brazil, and a federal state in 1962. Acre is best known for being the home of the world's first ecomartyr, the rubber tapper Chico Mendes, who was murdered at the orders of powerful cattle ranchers in 1988. Research Tips
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