Among the factors that caused the Independence of Brazil we can highlight the crisis of the colonial system, the Enlightenment ideas and the independence that occurred in English America and Spanish America.
Furthermore, the Brazilian agrarian elite itself would benefit from a separation between Portugal and Brazil.
Main Causes: Summary
In Brazil, overcoming the colonial pact was of interest to the agrarian aristocracy, the colony’s dominant class.
She saw this as a possibility of definitively freeing herself from metropolitan monopolies and from submission to Portuguese merchants.
The Inconfidência Mineira (1789) was one of the movements attempting colonial freedom.
The development of the region was hampered by the rigors of commercialized politics, which prevented any progress that would benefit the colony.
Among the revolts that preceded Brazil’s independence, the Bahian Conspiracy (1798) was the one that presented the most popular characteristics.
The population of Salvador, basically made up of slaves, blacks, free people, mulattos, whites, poor people and mixed-race people, lived in a situation of poverty. Thus, they preached a society where there were no social differences.
The Administration of D. João
In 1807, faced with Napoleon Bonaparte’s maneuvers, the Prince Regent of Portugal, D. João, chose to come to Brazil, and thus not lose his crown.
This situation caused a political reversal: Brazil, which was a colony of Portugal, became the seat of the Portuguese government.
On January 28, 1808, six days after his arrival in Salvador, the opening of Brazilian ports to friendly nations was decreed. This meant that any country could trade with Brazil.
This measure pleased the Brazilian rural aristocracy, who could trade without Portuguese intervention and acquire manufactured goods at a low price.
The opening of the ports meant the end of the colonial pact and could be considered the first step towards Brazil’s political independence.
United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves
In 1815, Brazil was elevated to the status of a United Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves. With this, Brazil ceased to be a colony and acquired the same legal status as the metropolis.
This change caused discontent in Portugal, as it revealed that D. João intended to settle in Brazil. Likewise, Brazil became the center of the Portuguese empire.
In 1816, with the death of Queen Maria, D. João became king, being acclaimed D. João VI and remaining in Brazil.
However, a political emancipation movement broke out with the Pernambucan Revolution of 1817. This struggle was based on several factors:
- Dissatisfaction with the collection of heavy taxes;
- administrative abuses;
- arbitrary and oppressive military administration;
- popular dissatisfaction;
- nativist ideals.
Liberal Revolution of Porto
In 1820, with the Liberal Revolution of Porto, which aimed at Portuguese autonomy, the promulgation of a Constitution and the resumption of the colonization of Brazil. In view of these facts, D. João VI returned to Portugal and assigned D. Pedro the regency of Brazil.
Subsequently, several measures from Portugal put pressure on D. Pedro’s government, in an attempt to nullify his political, administrative, military and judicial powers and force him to return to Portugal.
The news was seen as a declaration of war, causing riots and demonstrations of displeasure.
D. Pedro was invited to stay, as his departure would represent the disintegration of Brazil. The Dia do Fico (1822) was another step towards the definitive break with Portugal.
The events triggered a crisis in the government and the ministers loyal to the Cortes resigned. The prince formed a new ministry under the leadership of José Bonifácio, one of the main supporters of Brazilian political emancipation.
It was established that any determination coming from Portugal should only be accepted with the compliance of D. Pedro. He then went to the province of São Paulo in search of support for his cause.
Upon returning from Santos to the capital of São Paulo, he received a letter from Portugal demanding his immediate return to Lisbon. He also received two letters, one from José Bonifácio and another from Dona Leopoldina, advising him not to accept this order.