Today In History (September 7th 1822): Brazil Gets Independence
Dom Pedro I declared independence from Portugal.
On September 7th, 1822, Prince Regent Dom Pedro I proclaimed Brazil’s independence from the royal family of Portugal near a São Paulo plain. Even though the 1825 treaty brought formal acknowledgement, Brazil celebrates its Independence Day on September 7th every year.
Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral was the first European to discover Brazil in 1500. After this, Portugal took control of the lands.
Dom Pedro I was born to King John VI of Portugal. After Napoleon’s Portugal capture in 1807, he moved to Brazil with his family. Meanwhile, an 1815 decree made Brazil equal to Portugal under the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves. His father returned to Portugal in 1822. However, Pedro continued to stay in Brazil as the Prince Regent.
The parliament in Lisbon (Cortes) felt threatened by this. The majority, who were part of the Cortes, wanted Brazil to become a colony of Portugal. They then repealed several of the reforms introduced by the king. Afraid of the Prince Regent’s possible rebellion, Pedro I was asked to return to Portugal.
Dom Pedro delivered a speech that became infamous as Fico or ‘I Am Staying’. He enjoyed immense popularity among Brazilians. After forming a ministry under José Bonifácio (a.k.a Patriarch of Independence), Pedro “convoked a legislative and constituent assembly” on June 3rd, 1822.
On September 7th, 1822, Pedro exclaimed beside the Ipiranga Brook river, “Brazilians, Independence or death!”. A few months later, he became the first king of the Brazilian Empire. Consequently, a new dawn awaited Brazil.
Want to know more about Brazil’s independence? Click on the links to delve deeper into the events that led to the freedom struggle.
