BRAZILIAN INDEPENDENCE

When Christopher Columbus, a Genoese navigator, landed on American soil (in the West Indies) unintentionally, he has taken upon himself to realize that he set afoot to the New World. Eight years later, Pedro Alvares Cabral (1467-1520) made the same mistake; convinced by his own calculation, Cabral discovered a new route to the Indies shortly after leaving the African islands of Cape Verde. He sights the beaches of Portro Seguro. He had discovered an unknown mass of land, which one day would be Brazil.

On 7th of June 1494, the Treaty of Tordesilhas was issued by Spain & Portuguese. Because of Columbus's discovery, the Europeans learned that the New World contained rich awards such as gold and silvers. The treaty safely secures the lands of those who possessed and it was equally divided the share of lands among each other.

As Cabral lurks around the shore of Portro Seguro beaches, he witnessed strange people that appeared out of nowhere. He identified them as "Indians". The Indians proved to be a victim of a terrible, if not, one of the worst holocaust in the history. The arrival of the Portuguese caused catastrophes among the Indians: enslavement, extermination (by unknown diseases to them), tortured and to abandoned their ancient customs, in the name of Christ, where the acts were upon by explores of Portuguese. Today, just only 200 out of 1000 tribes remain in Brazil.

The Portuguese believed that Brazil was a large mass of land that contained nothing very interests apart from copious of Indians and strange animals and birds, especially colorful parrots. In fact, Italians chroniclers described the country as "Parrotland". In 1503, the name of Brazil began to be used to recognize the country. It was rooted from certain a tree that back then it was used to build ships because of its strong wood. Pau Brasil, as it was called, proved to be a great resource of building ships and furniture.

Thirty years after the discovery of Brazil, Portuguese conquests were threatened by other European countries (among them was French who refused to recognized the Treaty of Tordesillas and began to colonize in piracy anyway). Thus, a full-scale policy of colonization must be in placed. Martim Afonose de Sousa, the first "colonist", arrived in Brazil in 1530 to maintain and expel the intruders that invalidated the Treaty of Tordesilla. During his duty, he founded Sao Vicente, the first sugar can populations that later on were introduced and cattle rearing began. In addition, he founded the city of Salvador, which remained Brazil's capital (until 1763 when Rio de Janeiro took over). At the same time, Dom Joao III, the King of Portuguese, decided to split Brazil into 15 parts. In a sense of entrustment, he felt that each chief-management that was assigned would maintain the validity of the Treaty of Tordesilla. However, his method failed and he proposed a new strategy: in 1549 Tome de Sousa was assigned the first Governor- General of Brazil. The assignment that must do in task was to colonize the country and "colonies souls". (By colonizing souls, it meant to convert the natives to Catholicism and turn them into "good Christians" by devoting the works only to the Holy Mother Church; hence slavery was taken upon).

As the year approaches to the 18th century, Brazil began to increase an awareness of being a state until itself, separated from Portugal. Due to the Treaty of Methuen with England, Portugal has lost its role as a European super-power: Portugal was prohibited to develop any industrial development and any other type of agriculture products. In addition, such battles as the American Revolution (1776) and the French Revolution (1789) suggested a new perspective towards Brazil. Independence movements flourished such as Inconfidencia Miniera, on account of a republic similar to the American republic. The rebels demanded a republic, an end of slavery, free trade and an increase in soldier's pay. As predicted, enforcements were drawn upon to put down the rebels. Then in 1807, the Portuguese court moved to Brazil, under the protection of English, because the

advances of Napoleon's unstoppable army made in Europe.

As the Portuguese King Dom Jaou VI settled in Brazil, the population doubled during his residency. However, Jaou had to return Portugal to deal with the situation of the Portuguese revolution of 1820. Significantly, his son, Pedro, stayed in Brazil. The aspect of his decision of not departing affected a pro-Brazil faction. On 9th January 1822, Prince Dom Pedro announced his decision to permanently stay in Brazil with his famous speech: "Tell the people I'm here to stay." At the age of 24, Dom Pedro, later known as Dom Pedro I, became the Emperor of Brazil, shortly after he declared an independent on 7'h of September 1822. By 1824, Brazil gained its first constitution that guaranteed a hereditary constitution monarchy. Unlike United States and France, Brazil gained its independence without any cause of violence or hostility.

On April 7'h 1831, the reign of Dom Pedro was lasted when he was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Dom Pedro II. Secessionist rebellion emerged, causing Brazil encountering with economic depression and the Emperor was forced to abdicate. When Dom Pedro II took passion of the throne (until 1889), it marked the beginning of the Regency period. In addition, slavery was banned under the impression from the English, who had been calling for its abolition for years.

Bibliography

Beppe Ceccato Past and Present: Brazil Italy, 1997
David M Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, Thomas A Bailey The American Pageant Boston, 2002
Wikipedia