The thought of one day calling a house your home. The desire of freedom from outside control, foreign authority, and others who do not understand the life you live. The notion of turning a nightmare of restraint to the dream of freedom. Brazil, lush in forests, resources, and population density lacked a quality that would unite it as a nation and enhance it as a community. Brazilian inhabitants yearned for the day that Brazil would no longer be referred to as an adjunct country but one of importance and individuality. Seemingly an unattainable feat, independence existed only in spirit, a nebulous form that constantly drifted out of reach. Leadership and motivation existed in the reign of Dom Pedro, who encouraged and prodded the Brazilians with his battle cries at Sao Paulo and Iprianga, leading them to victory. On September 7, 1822 overwhelmed and overjoyed Brazilian citizens reveled in the savor of independence, that left a taste sweeter than the finest Brazilian brigadeiro.

Brazilian independence is enjoyed by all of it's citizens today, however, the struggle for independence was one of strife, anguish, and competition.

Under the prevalent influence of imperialism, the world-dominant hegemonic power, Europe, began to spread their influence throughout the hemispheres of the globe. Increased tensions over land disputes between differentiating sects of Europe led to the separation between the Spanish and the Portugese and the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the world outside of Europe near 39°53' west. The lands to the east belonged to Portugal, and those that resided west of the line were Spain's. During the exploration of these newly acquired lands, Portugese navigator, Pedro Alvares Cabral, stumbled upon a vast area of largely uninhabited land in 1500. Sparsely settled by Indian tribes, the Portugese swiftly, and effortlessly dominated the region, leaving only a few surviving tribes around the Amazon Basin. Throughout the ensuing centuries, Portugese settlers flocked to the lavish country, later naming it Brasil, a Portugese and Spanish word for an East Indian tree that produces red dye, after finding a similar tree in the New World to their native species back in Portugal. Settlers pushed inland, bringing African slaves with them, (a practice which was ironically not abolished until1888, far after Brazilian independence).

In 1808, the King of Portugal, Dom Joao, moved the seat of the government to Brazil while fleeing Napoleon's army. Joao's son, Pedro, become the omnipotent heir under Joao, and was informally promised the crown through the Bragança Agreement, if he led Brazil to independence. With an economically-angled mind set, Pedro set out to rule the kingdom of Brazil prudently and thriftily. Cutting his personal salary, eliminating the royal salt tax, and centralizing the then scattered government offices exemplified the effort and tribulations Pedro was willing to undertake in order to induce Brazil' s independence. Disturbed by Brazil' s attempts for independence, the Portugese Assembly acrimoniously voted to abolish the Kingdom of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, submissively subjugating them to rule under Lisbon. Consequently, troops were sent to Brazil, and all Brazilian units were placed under Portugese command. This incited the short-lived Brazilian War for Independence.

Infuriated at Dom Pedro's defiance to comply with the Cortes, the Portugese Assembly, the "lead feet," Portugese troops as Brazilians referred to them as, rioted around Cerro Castello, only to be met by a rallying Brazilian force that sent the lead feet hobbling back to Portugal. Foreseeing future threats by Portugese armies, Pedro initiated a new government headed by the "patriarch of independence" Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva of Sao Paulo. Blood was shed in the north later on in the war, and resulting guerilla warfare began symbolizing the determination and sheer ferocity of the Brazilians in their struggle for independence. Armed with purpose and the support from the rest of his nation, Dom Pedro, the "perpetual defender of Brazil" plunged into the war for independence. Having written two manifestos, and with the ever-increasing strength of Portugal breathing down his neck Pedro arrived at a fork in the road. Facing a shameful return to Portugal as a defeated radical, or a last push for independence and severing the final ties that shackled Brazil to the Portugese, Pedro audaciously chose the latter. The swirling winds whistled as the brisk air cut through the soldiers like the cold breath of the enemy. Proudly mounted atop his horse, Dom Pedro tore off the blue and white Portugese insignia from his uniform boldly exclaiming, "By my blood, by my honor, and by my God: I will make Brazil free!" From that moment, independence was only a sword's length away.

Brazil's thrust for independence mirrors another nations drive for independence in regards to the physical, mental, and strategical aspects of war. This comparative pursuit of independence is seen in the American Revolution. Both Brazil and America were prompted for war due to the instigation by their oppressors (the Portugese and the British). The wars for independence were fought on the home ground of the respective nation that desired freedom and separation. This led to an advantage for Brazil and America because they were more familiar with not only the terrain, but also the climate and the surrounding tribes that inhabited the land and where they resided. Additionally, Brazilian guerilla warfare, as demonstrated in the north and American hit-and-run warfare allowed the less experienced, inferior armies of the nations fighting for freedom a strategy that preserved lives and used knowledge of the land to their advantage. Furthermore, Brazil and America were both fortunate enough to posses strong leaders to motivate the inferior armies to rise above the doubts and uncertainty of many civilians and foreigners alike. Brazilians such as Dom Pedro and Jose Silva and Americans such as George Washington and Samuel Adams lifted the spirits of rag-tag armies against military powerhouses to complete the daunting task of victory that until accomplished, was thought to be impossible. Lastly, both Brazil and America had a weapon in their arsenal that their adversaries lacked: Passion for a cause. Brazil and America yearned for their nations to one day be independent of a greater power that denied them rights and liberties that they desired for themselves. They wallowed in the thought of one day being able to call themselves a free and independent nation. The feeling haunted them, followed them wherever they went, hovered overhead and settled upon their bodies like a thick coat of armor, protecting them against the enemy who stopped them from attainting their liberty. And this passion for independence became so strong that they could not bear to live without it any longer, and every day that passed by without it, made the citizens feel guiltier and guiltier about not having gaining it sooner. Eventually their determination was indestructible and they would stop at nothing to achieve their freedom. Just as Patrick Henry exclaimed "Give me liberty or give me death" during the American Revolution, Dom Pedro cried for "Independence or death," the eventual motto for Brazilian Emancipation.

Brazil's victory of independence was finally recognized by Britain and Portugal by signing a treaty on August 29, 1825. Since then, Brazil has excelled. The Brazilian Amazon rainforest is home to about 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2000 birds and mammals. Brazil is a major exporter of natural resources such as bauxite, gold, uranium, and petroleum. In addition, Brazil's education has been improving, now boasting an 86.4% literacy rate among all of its citizens. The largest country in South America, Brazil is constantly changing and improving, two dynamic qualities brought about by the victorious strive for independence.

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