1. Week 4: An Experiment in Decentralisation

2. Last week… independence and aftermath
Arrival of Portuguese court to Rio; 1815 United Kingdom arrangement; eventual break in 1822
Change or continuity? Who drove independence? Who benefited?
Where are ORDINARY PEOPLE in this picture?

3. Problems of the First Empire, 1822-1831
Regional revolts: 1824 Pernambuco (again)
1825 War with Argentina over Cisplatine Province
Economy doing badly; over-dependence on the British
Strong anti-Portuguese sentiment; March 1831 “noites das garrafadas” (5-day riot in Rio)
Conflict between elite factions and D. Pedro; Portuguese monarchists force his return, 1831

4. English: Brazilian Imperial Army attacks the confederate forces in Recife, 1824.
Português: Combate entre rebeldes e legalistas na luta dos Afogados. Exército Imperial do Brasil ataca as forças confederadas no Recife, 1824.
Author Leandro Martins. Wikipedia Commons.

5. Elite political divisions
Moderate liberals : Pedro II, independence, individual liberties
Absolutists: unison with Portugal under Pedro I; subordinate individual freedom to monarchy
Exaltados: provincial freedoms, even separate Republics 
Conservatives / Liberals

6. 1830s: experiment with decentralization
1834 Additional Act: greater powers to provinces, can choose provincial assemblies
Disastrous for central government: series of massive regional revolts
Idea was to strengthen central government but backfires
Put down violently/ brutally

7. Brazilian troops getting ready to go to the provinces.
English: Third Batallion of the Brazilian Army in São Cristóvão (Saint Cristopher), Rio de Janeiro.
Português: Terceiro batalhão do Exército brasileiro em São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro.
Date 1835 Source Nossa História, ano 3, nº 26, dez/2005

8. The War of the Cabanos: Pernambuco, 1832-5
, :
Happens after Pedro I leaves but before 1834 Additional Act
demand return of Pedro I [monarchist: OPPOSITE of the Confederation of the Equator project in the 1820s]
Joined by lower orders: Indians, slaves
Weakened by death of Pedro I; crushed

10. War of Cabanagem, Belém, 1835-40:
Belém: port city on mouth of Amazon
Initially, fighting between monarchists & regionalists
Strong pro/ anti Portuguese aspects (port city; Portuguese merchants)
Escalates into broader social struggle
30,000 die (1/5 of province’s population)

11. Johann Bachta. Typical scene that formed the backdrop for the rebellion of the cabanos in Maranhao.

12. The Sabinada,
(Bahia)
Rebellious tradition in Bahia: (Tailors’ Conspiracy 1798; independence struggles ; the revolt of the MALÊS, in 1835
Sparked by attempts at military recruitment in the province
“Bahian republic” declared by rebels headed by Dr Sabino Vieira
Familiar pattern: Non-white masses join; 1,800 killed
Spectre of “race war”

13. Balaiada, 1838-41 (Maranhão) Local political struggles between elites…
Economic crisis for COTTON due to competition with US
Region well-known for banditry; becomes general social rebellion
3,000 rebel slaves (under leader Cosme Bento) capture the town of Caxias in Maranhão;
counter-insurgency campaign; imperial army recaptures the town
commander of Brigadier Luis Alves de Lima e Silva becomes Baron of Caxias as reward

14. Basket (balaio) weavers, C19

15. War of the Farrapos (Rio Grande do Sul) 1835-1845
Rebels declare independent republic
Partly about control of leather/ meat trade
Delicate border position next to Uruguay
Military defeat under Baron of Caxias
Plus: amnesty

16. The war of the Farrapos

18. Meanwhile: slave rebellion in Bahia (1835)
A “regional revolt” of sorts? Or different?
Mainly Muslim slaves: defeated Yoruba sold into trade from today’s Nigeria
João José Reis Slave Rebellion in Brazil is best reference (see article for seminar reading today too)
Contributes to fear around race/ social rebellion
Decision to END the trade in 1850 is arguably product of 1835 revolt (plus disease; “Africanisation”; British pressure)

19. Confronto entre tropas da Guarda Nacional e negros.

21. Re-centralization, 1840-1850 1840 Additional Act revoked
1840 Pedro II crowned
: Praieira revolt, Pernambuco:
- Conservative / Liberal rivalry
- anti-Portuguese rioting
- demand for federalism, end to “moderating power,” expulsion of Portuguese
- crushed 1850; last of big challenges to nation-state

22. D. Pedro II in 1837