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
1830s: 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 1820s]
• 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, C19
War of the Farrapos (Rio Grande do
Sul) 1835-1845
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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
• 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