Week 4 An Experiment in Decentralisation Last week

Week 4: An Experiment in Decentralisation

Last week… independence and aftermath • Arrival of Portuguese court to Rio; 1815 United Kingdom arrangement; eventual break in 1822 • Change or continuity? Who drove independence? Who benefited? • Where are ORDINARY PEOPLE in this picture?

Problems of the First Empire, 18221831 • Regional revolts: 1824 Pernambuco (again) • 1825 War with Argentina over Cisplatine Province • Economy doing badly; over-dependence on the British • Strong anti-Portuguese sentiment; March 1831 “noites das garrafadas” (5 -day riot in Rio) • Conflict between elite factions and D. Pedro; Portuguese monarchists force his return, 1831

Elite political divisions • Moderate liberals : Pedro II, independence, individual liberties • Absolutists: unison with Portugal under Pedro I; subordinate individual freedom to monarchy • Exaltados: provincial freedoms, even separate Republics • • Conservatives / Liberals

1830 s: experiment with decentralization • 1834 Additional Act: greater powers to provinces, can choose provincial assemblies • Disastrous for central government: series of massive regional revolts • Idea was to strengthen central government but backfires • Put down violently/ brutally

The War of the Cabanos: Pernambuco, 1832 -5 • , 1832 -5: • Happens after Pedro I leaves but before 1834 Additional Act • demand return of Pedro I [monarchist: OPPOSITE of the Confederation of the Equator project in the 1820 s] • Joined by lower orders: Indians, slaves • Weakened by death of Pedro I; crushed

War of Cabanagem, Belém, 1835 -40: • Belém: port city on mouth of Amazon • Initially, fighting between monarchists & regionalists • Strong pro/ anti Portuguese aspects (port city; Portuguese merchants) • Escalates into broader social struggle • 30, 000 die (1/5 of province’s population)

The Sabinada, 1837 -8 • (Bahia) • Rebellious tradition in Bahia: (Tailors’ Conspiracy 1798; independence struggles 1822 -3; the revolt of the MALÊS, in 1835 • Sparked by attempts at military recruitment in the province • “Bahian republic” declared by rebels headed by Dr Sabino Vieira • Familiar pattern: Non-white masses join; 1, 800 killed • Spectre of “race war”

Balaiada, 1838 -41 (Maranhão) • Local political struggles between elites… • Economic crisis for COTTON due to competition with US • Region well-known for banditry; becomes general social rebellion • 3, 000 rebel slaves (under leader Cosme Bento) capture the town of Caxias in Maranhão; • counter-insurgency campaign; imperial army recaptures the town • commander of Brigadier Luis Alves de Lima e Silva becomes Baron of Caxias as reward

Basket (balaio) weavers, C 19

War of the Farrapos (Rio Grande do Sul) 1835 -1845 • • • Rebels declare independent republic Partly about control of leather/ meat trade Delicate border position next to Uruguay Military defeat under Baron of Caxias Plus: amnesty

The war of the Farrapos

Meanwhile: slave rebellion in Bahia (1835) • A “regional revolt” of sorts? Or different? • Mainly Muslim slaves: defeated Yoruba sold into trade from today’s Nigeria • João José Reis Slave Rebellion in Brazil is best reference (see article for seminar reading today too) • Contributes to fear around race/ social rebellion • Decision to END the trade in 1850 is arguably product of 1835 revolt (plus disease; “Africanisation”; British pressure)

Re-centralization, 1840 -1850 • 1840 Additional Act revoked • 1840 Pedro II crowned • 1848 -1850: Praieira revolt, Pernambuco: - Conservative / Liberal rivalry - anti-Portuguese rioting - demand for federalism, end to “moderating power, ” expulsion of Portuguese - crushed 1850; last of big challenges to nationstate