DECLARATION OF INDEPENDECE OF BRAZIL: “INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH”

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDECE OF BRAZIL: “INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH”

“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unlivable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. “

Thomas Jefferson

In September 7^th of 1822 Brazil acquired its political independence from Portugal after 322 years of colonization. Those years were marked for exploration of our resources without limit as happened to our “pau brasil” (specie of plant).

The movement of independence was the result of the reaction of the wealthy part of our society. The rupture with Portugal was pacific, distant from de center of power and without any participation of the population.

The independence of Brazil privileges the richest people in the country. Our society kept its political economic and social structure almost intact. Those characteristics had a strong reason: the process of independence was undertaken for those who were in the control.

Briefly, the gaining of independence of our country could be told that way, but history is not so simple. Actually begins with the weakening of the colonial system and the arrival of the Portuguese Court to Brazil (1808) and ends only in 1824 with the adoption of the first Brazilian Constitution.

Between the 18th and 19th centuries in Brazil the internal and external pressures against the Portuguese trade monopoly and charging high taxes in a period of free trade grow.
Several revolts - such as the Minas, Bahia and Pernambuco Conspiracy Revolt of 1817 - together with the French Revolution and the independence of the United States, led to the weakening of colonialism and strengthened trade liberalism in Brazil. In 1808, with the opening of the ports, Brazil now has more economic freedom and, with his acceptance from the United Kingdom, is no longer formally a colony.

In 1820, the Portuguese bourgeoisie tried to rescue her commercial supremacy, promoting the Liberal Revolution. The following year, the Portuguese parliament João 6 forced to swear allegiance to the Constitution and go back to Portugal. His son Pedro was left in Brazil, as the prince regent, to lead an eventual political separation.

The pressures on the control of Portugal grew in the colony and the metropolis began to demand the return of Pedro. The prince gave his answer to Portugal on January 9, 1822 (Day I), with the famous phrase "If it's for the good of all and happiness of the nation, tell the people that I stay."

He began a political effort on the part of ministers and advisers from Don Pedro, the permanent link with Portugal, while maintaining some autonomy for Brazil. They wanted independence without conflict, but the criticism of colonialism were unsustainable. Dom Pedro, then found himself under pressure to formalize the split.

And so, on June 3, 1822, Pedro called the first Brazilian Constituent Assembly. On 1 August, said that enemy troops Portuguese landed in Brazil and, days later, signed the Manifesto to Friendly Nations, justifying the break with the courts of Lisbon and ensuring the independence of the country like the kingdom of Portugal brother.

In retaliation, the Portuguese canceled the convening of the Constituent Assembly in Brazil, sent troops to the colony and demanded the immediate return of the prince regent of Portugal. On September 7, 1822, during a visit to Sao Paulo, near the Ipiranga River, Don Pedro received a letter with the requirements of the courts and reacted by proclaiming the independence of Brazil.

In early 1823, there were elections for a Constituent Assembly that would draft and approve the charter of the Brazilian Empire, but because of disagreements with Pedro, the Assembly was soon closed. The 1st Brazilian Constitution was then established by the Council of State and granted by the emperor on March 25, 1824.

With the Constitution, the separation between the colony and the metropolis was finally realized. Still, the independence is only recognized by Portugal in 1825 with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Alliance between Portugal and Brazil, by King Joao 6.

The independence of Brazil was negotiated an emancipation movement, which was attended by the wealthy classes, consisting of the commercial bourgeoisie and the agrarian elite. The working classes have been marginalized in decision making. Independence had political boundaries, social and economic well evident. For not become a project of radical rupture with the then existing relations of domination in Brazilian society. They wanted the Conservatives and the agrarian elite, ensured the maintenance of large property and slave labor exporter and still remained the monarchy.

As it can be observed in our history the slavery was the failure to comply with freedom in Brazil for many years. The poverty is proving of inequality since then and is something that we need to banish in our country. Unfortunately the wealthy people are still making the decision in Brazil which stifles of the voice of the minority.