Brazilian Independence…..And Empire

Brazilian Independence…..And

EmpireBakerBeanBlessBlum

Achieving Independence• By the end of the 18th century Brazil

had grown in population and economic exports

• European demand for products :•Sugar•Cotton•Cocoa

Slaves Take Over?

• Planters, merchants, and miners longed for more open trade and fewer taxes

• They feared they may upset the political system

• It could have lead to a social revolution or a slave uprising

• However, their attempts at this were unsuccessful

Brazil=PortugalBrazil=Portugal

• In 1807 French troops invaded In 1807 French troops invaded PortugalPortugal

• The entire Portuguese royal family The entire Portuguese royal family and court fled from the country and and court fled from the country and sailed to Brazil under the protection sailed to Brazil under the protection of British shipsof British ships

• New court established at Rio de New court established at Rio de JaneiroJaneiro

• Became the capital of the Portuguese Became the capital of the Portuguese empireempire

Dom Pedro II• Son of Dom Pedro I who was

forced to abdicate his throne in 1831 in favor of Dom Pedro II

• When he came into power he was too young to rule so a series of regents directed the country in his name

• Proved to be an enlighted man of middle-class habits who was anxious to reign over a tranquil and progressive nation

• His nation was based upon slave labor

COFFEE!!!• Coffee provided a new basis for

agricultural expansion in southern Brazil• By 1840, coffee made up more than 40%

of Brazils exports• By 1880, coffee made up more than 60%

of their exports• Along with the expansion of coffee

growing came an intensification of slavery

Slavery

• It was Brazil’s primary form of laborIt was Brazil’s primary form of labor• More than 1.4 million Africans were More than 1.4 million Africans were

imported to Brazil in the last 50 years of imported to Brazil in the last 50 years of the tradethe trade

• Even after the trans-Atlantic slave trade Even after the trans-Atlantic slave trade ended, slavery continuedended, slavery continued

• At mid-century, about ¼ of Brazil’s At mid-century, about ¼ of Brazil’s population was still enslavedpopulation was still enslaved

• Brazil finally abolished slavery in 1888Brazil finally abolished slavery in 1888

Urbanization• Railroads, steamships, and the

telegraph began to change communication and transportation

• Foreign companies invested in banking and these new forms of communication and transportation

• Less land-holding and slavery occurred

Peasant Revolt

• The change to a republic economic hardship and the secularization of society provoked peasant unrest

• The peasants were unhappy in rural areas• They were lead by Antonio Conselheiro, a

religious mystic• The government feared this peasant army

and sent 4 military expeditions against them• The fighting was bloody, and the casualties

were in the thousands