Brazil occupies nearly half of South America. The Empire of Brazil was a 19th century state which comprised of territories that now form the current modern Brazil. After its independence under Pedro I, Brazil adopted a constitution and became one of America’s first native monarchs. Brazil’s government was ruled by emperors Dom Pedro I and his son Dom Pedro II who were members of the Portuguese House of Braganza. Their family migrated from Portugal to Brazil after their country was invaded by French troops in 1808. Pedro grew up without restraint due to being neglected by his parents for he grew away from them. Even though Pedro was not formerly educated for he considered physical skills rather than classroom education, he was quick witted, intelligent and perspicacious.
Pedro I
Pedro I declared Brazil’s independence on 7th September 1822 after waging war against his father’s kingdom and winning it successfully. Dom Pedro I was Brazil’s first emperor after its independence in 1822. Brazil’s independence marked the end of Portugal’s attempts to re-colonize it. In spite of being sparsely populated and ethnically diverse, Brazil had political stability, respect for civil rights, vibrant economic growth and freedom of speech. Pedro propagated decrees that guaranteed property and personal rights whereby the people who owned properties were protected from having their property taken away from them. Another decree that was implemented was that no one could be arrested without a written warrant of arrest or else the person was caught in the act of committing the crime (Bethell 78). No suspect could be detained for more than 48 hours without being charged. He also reduced expenditures and taxes and he made sure that all the merchants who were arrested and detained during the merchants exchange incident were set free. During his reign, Pedro II abolished the use of torture, secret trials and inhumane restraints. He enacted a constitution that gave him substantial powers over the people. In his reign , an unfavorable treaty was signed by the Portuguese to recognize Brazil’s independence and to pay indemnity to Portugal for it to regain its earlier status of being the most favored nation. The Portuguese citizens who were living in Brazil were to be compensated for the losses they incurred for example the properties that were taken away from them. This treaty was not favorable to the Brazilian economic interests.
Pedro was accused of mismanagement of financial affairs. In his reign as the emperor of Brazil, the cost of living rose in all cities, inflation grew and the debts arose. The exchange rates sank and banks issued paper money that was ineffective and this led to gold and this made silver and gold to be out of circulation. It also led to the decline of tobacco, cocoa, cotton, leather, and coffee production. During Pedro’s reign, the elites and the middle class demanded imported consumer goods because they were troubled with the British tariffs. The army also distanced themselves from the emperor for they were not contented with the Portuguese commanders and the military defeats. Additionally, most urban elites decided to side with the liberals’ side because of the economic setbacks that were there at the time of Emperor Pedro’s reign.
During Pedro I’s reign, Brazil got involved in war with Argentina over Provincia Cisplatina which led to the loss of the region because Brazil was defeated and the area became Uruguay. Slavery was a major issue throughout Pedro’s reign even though he was against it but his own liberal constitution had laws supporting it. Most Africans were brought in Brazil as slaves to work in sugar, coffee and cocoa plantations. In Brazil, the slaves comprised nearly half of the Brazilian population (Neill 44). Dom Pedro I faced obstacles like being unsuccessful in winning the cisplatine war against the neighboring United States of South America and due to the economic crisis and political crisis that followed the dismissal of ministers, he abdicated his throne in favor of his five year old son. Pedro II managed to bring peace to the Brazilians for Brazil was victorious under his rule and they managed to prevail in several international disputes and rivalries.
The Regency
Pedro I left Brazil for Portugal after the death of his father and abdicated his 5 year old son as the head of state and since he was still young, a regency was created to run in the interim. Brazil faced a ten year regency that was interrupted by numerous civil wars and disturbances. The regency had limited powers exercised by the emperor and it was hard for them to fill the vacuum left and this made it hard for them to rule effectively. The regency failed to prove its ability to govern for it failed to resolve disputes and rivalries both locally and internationally. The general assembly was able to pass a constitutional amendment called Ato Adicional (Additional act) in 1934 which they thought that it could help end the chaos but instead new chaos and rivalries erupted. This act led to violent eruptions throughout the country and it was hard to contain it since the regency had unlimited powers and was unable to solve the disputes. Several rebellions erupted because the parties which had lost elections rebelled and wanted to take power by force. Since the regency was unable to resolve Brazil’s disputes, the liberals felt that they needed a leader who had no limited powers to rule the government, they allied themselves with high ranking servants from the palace and notable politicians to make Pedro II emperor at the age of 14.The liberals successfully passed an initiative that lowered Pedro II’s age of majority from 18 years to 14 years and he was declared fit to rule in July 1840 at the age of 14 (skidmore and Smith 113).
At age, Pedro II was able to successfully dismiss the liberals who had proved ineffective in office and called on the conservatives to form a government. He ruled effectively.
Pedro II was able to rule effectively since he had all the powers as an emperor comparably, the regency failed because they had unlimited power and thus could not exercise the powers of an emperor. Barman asserts that the regency had no faith and the ability to resolve rivalries and disputes because they had limited powers and this caused so many violent eruptions that could not be contained (28). During Pedro I’s rule, Debts rose, inflation grew and the cost of living rose but after the regency, Brazil regained its political stability and Pedro II’s reign marked Brazil’s internal peace and economic prosperity and this has made Brazil an emerging power till now. During Pedro I’s reign, Brazil was sparsely populated but during the regency, the population had grown. Brazil become an emerging power after Dom Pedro II became of age and built its political and economic stability and also lobbied for peace with the neighboring nations.
Works Cited
Skidmore, E. Thomas, and Smith, H. Peter. Modern Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.
Neill, Macaulay. Dom Pedro: The Struggle for Liberty in Brazil and Portugal, 1798-1834. Durham: Duke University Press, 1986. Print.
Barman, Rodrick J. Brazil: The Forging of a Nation, 1798-1852. Stamford: Stamford University Press, 1988. Print.
Bethell, Leslie. Brazil Empire and Republic, 1822-1930. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Print.
