INDEPENDENCE OF BRAZIL

COLONISATION BY PORTUGAL

• By the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), Spain acknowledged Portugal’s ownership of whatever

lands lie east of the line drawn 379 leagues west of the Cape Verde Island off the West African
coast. This meant that Portugal had exclusive rights to the West African coast and those lands in
the Americas that fall within the boundaries of the treaty which were, as Portugal argued, at the
tip of the Amazon and Rio de la Plaza rivers.
• Hence, from as early as 1494, the lands that eventually became Brazil were owned by Portugal.
• On April 22, 1500, Portuguese Navigator and Explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral landed in what
is now Brazil and laid claim to it in the name of King Manuel I of Portugal.
• When the Portuguese got to Brazil, they were greeted by over 4 million Native Amerindians
who were displaced over time or enslaved.
• Similar to Spain, Portugal lusted for mineral wealth in the Americas and wanted to exploit
Brazil for gold. However, it was futile.
• There was little prospect for mineral wealth in Brazil and steps were taken to transform it into a
trading post and agricultural unit with the establishment of sugar plantations and cattle ranches.
• From as early as the 1530s, Brazil became a commercial success for the Portuguese due to
the presence of numerous resources, fertile lands, and a large labour force consisting of
Native Amerindians and later African slaves.
• Brazil became an important asset to Portugal and people from Portugal, who wanted a better
life, migrated to settle in the colony up to the 1580s.

SPAIN’S RULE OVER PORTUGAL

• In 1580, King Henry I of Portugal died and left no heir, or successor. King Philip II of Spain
took the opportunity to seize Portugal for Spain and sent a Spanish army of about 40,000 men to
invade Portugal. In 1581, King Philip II of Spain was crowned King Phillip I of Portugal.
Portugal was essentially ruled by the Spanish Crown.
• This lasted until 1640 why Portugal got rid of the Spanish crown and appointed its own king,
King John IV, “the Restorer”.
• During this period, Brazil expanded significantly as it started to benefit from increased
attention from Spain, the supreme colonial force in the Americas at the time. It also became an
important trading post for slaves as Portuguese sailors and shippers became the main supplier of
slaves to other European countries such as France, Britain and Holland that were creating
colonies in the Americas, in regions that were seemingly abandoned by Spain.

KINGDOM STATUS OF BRAZIL

• After Portugal restored the Portuguese Monarchy in 1640, increased trades in Africans and
Portuguese exploitation of West Africa, increased the wealth of Portugal, and by extension
Brazil up to the 1700s.
• After the French Revolution (1789-1799), France was ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte who
launched a full-scale war with the countries in Europe. He wanted to conquer the various
countries in Europe and create a united nation under French rule. France was fighting against
Britain, Holland, Spain, Portugal and other European countries.
• By 1801, it became clear that Napoleon was making advances towards Spain and Portugal.
Britain warned the Portuguese crown to transfer the monarchy to Brazil. This advice was not
taken until 1807 by Queen Marie I.
• Brazil was the wealthiest and largest colony of Portugal at the time.
• When the Portuguese crown transferred to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro was substituted for Lisbon.
By this, all the commercial activities that would have occurred in Lisbon in Portugal, were now
happening in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
• Prince Dom Joao, the son of Queen Marie I, took control and started to develop Brazil by
creating ports, courts, schools, hospitals and so forth.
• By 1815, Brazil was promoted to the status of a Kingdom with equal status to Lisbon.
• In 1816, with the death of Queen Marie I, Dom João was crowned the king of Portugal as King
John VI.

LOSS OF KINGDOM STATUS IN BRAZIL

• In 1811, Britain defeated Napoleon and restored balance to Europe. With the threat of France
gone, the Portuguese crown was no longer in danger, and it was time to relocate to Portugal.
Despite this, King John VI remained in Brazil until 1821. The move was mainly because of
anti-colonial sentiments among Brazilians. Also, there was a Liberal Revolution in Portugal in
1820 and the King had to deal with revolutionaries and insubordination by Portuguese troops.
• King John VI left his son Dom Pedro as regent in Brazil.
• In moving the Portuguese crown back to Lisbon, it meant that Brazil was no longer possessive
of a kingdom status, and it was returned to a colony.
• The Portuguese government's threat to revoke the political
autonomy that Brazil had enjoyed since 1808 was met with
widespread discontent in Brazil. Dom Pedro chose the Brazilian
side and declared Brazil's independence from Portugal on 7
September 1822.
• The declaration for Brazil’s independence was met with fierce resistance from Portugal.
• On 12 October 1822, DomPedrowas declared the Brazilian Emperor and by March 1824
defeated all armies loyal to Portugal.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED THE DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE IN BRAZIL

a) Portugal’s mercantilist policies were harsh, and Brazilians were forced to trade with Portugal
alone.
b) The Relocation of the Portuguese Crown to Brazil in 1807 gave Brazil a Kingdom status.
They were dissatisfied when the Portuguese Crown returned to Portugal in 1821 which would
return it to a colonial status.
c) Increase nationalist sentiments among Brazilians. Dom Pedro’s decision to stay in Brazil
conferred legitimacy on the Brazilian state and increased nationalism.
d) They were influenced by the enlightenment principles of social contract, constitutionalism,
republicanism.
e) They were influenced by the French, American and Haitian Revolutions.
f) Britain and the United States expressed their support for Brazil’s independence. Both countries
were restricted from trading with Brazil due to Portuguese’s commercial policies and felt that
their independence would increase trades. The US also encouraged countries to seek
independence under their famous Monroe Doctrine which stated that the countries in the
Americas were no longer subjected to European colonisation.
Brazil’s independence was announced on September 7, 1822. Over 20,000 troops from Portugal
were sent to restore colonialism in the country. However, they were defeated by the Brazilians
under the leadership of Dom Pedro. By 1825, Portugal accepted the independence of Brazil and
signed the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro on August 29, 1825, formally ending Brazil’s war of
independence and recognizing Brazil as an independent nation.

REASONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT IN BRAZIL

1. The Portuguese government was facing a Liberation Revolution in Portugal that was
started in 1820. This meant that they were busy and distracted. Furthermore, it was clear
that the Portuguese government was weak as was evident with their relocation of the
Crown to Brazil from as early as 1807.
2. The troops dispatched by Portugal to restore colonial status to Brazil did not offer much
resistance.
3. The nationalist sentiments in Brazil gave the Brazilian the greatest impetus to fight for
their independence under Dom Pedro.
4. The support from Britain and the United States. The US Monroe Doctrine of 1823 was
significant because Portugal’s war on the Brazilian violated the doctrine and was seen as
an unfriendly act.
5. The US and Britain recognized the independence of Brazil from as early as 1822 which
gave them legitimacy.
6. Efforts by the Portuguese Parliament to return the colony to colonial status infuriated the
Brazilians and influenced their desire to fight.
7. Portuguese loyalists were few in numbers and many of them decided to fight with Dom
Pedro.
POST- INDEPENDENCE DEVELOPMENT

1. Limited industrial growth due to an influx of American and British cheap manufactured
goods.
2. Significant agricultural growth in cotton, sugar, wheat and coffee. Coffee became the
main export by the late 1800s.
3. Brazil developed in agriculture due to the presence of a large labour force (slaves and
Native Americans) and ample land. Slavery continued until 1888.
4. Experienced economic growth due to loans from Britain and the United States. However,
this deepened their debts to these countries.
5. Became a democratic country but was unfamiliar with this type of system. Despite this,
Brazil experienced political stability after its independence.
6. Religious conflict between Roman Catholics and other minorities characterized Brazilian
society. Roman Catholicism was the main denomination of Christianity in Brazil.

PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

CAPE 2005
With reference to EITHER Brazil OR Venezuela, assess the claim that Latin American
independence movements were influenced by European ideas and political developments, and by
new circumstances in the Americas. [30 marks]

Useful points:
• Give some background information about independence in Brazil –
when, who, why?
• European ideas: Enlightenment principles and industrialization in Britain. Britain encouraged
independence in Brazil because they could become new markets for British manufactured goods
and a source for raw material.
• European political developments: French Revolution, Napoleonic War which led to the
transfer of the Portuguese crown to Brazil in 1807– led to Brazil being given a Kingdom status
by 1815.
• New circumstances in the Americas: American Revolution, Haitian Revolution, Monroe
Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine was very significant because it made it clear that any attempts by
European countries to recolonize the Americas would be seen as an unfriendly act.

CAPE 2006
Discuss the factors that influenced the pace of economic development in EITHER Brazil OR
Venezuela in the post-independence period up to 1900. [30 marks]

Useful points:
• A long history of agriculture meant that they were able to further develop sugar and coffee.
Coffee became the main export after independence.
• Ample land space meant that agriculture could be expand.
• Large labour force – African slaves and Native Americans – slavery was
not abolished until 1888.
• Trading relationship with Britain and the United States meant that the
trading expanded up the 1900s. Expansion of trades with other European
countries.
• The creation of small industries – was not significant due to the influx of cheap manufactured
goods from Britain and USA.
• Provision of loans and financial aid from Britain and the United States.
• Political stability in the country up to the 1900s meant that economic
policies were generally successful.

NB: Sometimes the examiners might ask about the national development of Brazil in the post-
independence period. The above points are also suitable.

CAPE 2010
Discuss the view that international developments in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth
centuries were responsible for the independence of EITHER Brazil OR Venezuela. [30 marks]

Useful points:
Late 18th Century (late 1700s)
• Success of the American Revolution
• French Revolution and the enlightenment principles
• Industrialization in Britain

Early Nineteenth Century (early 1800s)

• Napoleonic Wars - which led to the transfer of the Portuguese crown to
Brazil in 1807– led to Brazil being given a Kingdom status by 1815.
• Success of the Haitian Revolution
• Passage of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 - Monroe Doctrine was very
significant because it made it clear that any attempts by European countries to recolonize the
Americas would be seen as an unfriendly act.