SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1822: the independence that few have noticed. By Tércio Barbosa Rigolin (*)
The birthday of our country is a date not easily forgotten. It is a special day for a majority of Brazilians, but at the same time, it is difficult for many to recognize it as a truly transformative moment for the country..
Many other countries have special dates to commemorate transformative moments for the nation. The 4th and 14th of July, respectively, mark the dates of the independence of the United States from England (1776) and the taking of an important prison and symbol of political repression in Paris (1789), the Bastille.
How about our country? What is the principal civic date of Brazil? Well, we celebrate Brazil's Independence on September 7th, 1822.
To better understand what these 194 years of independence really means, it’s necessary to remember Brazil’s history. For more than three centuries, the country, as a colony, was occupied and exploited by Portugal (1500-1815). Brazil could only trade with Portugal and industrial activities were forbidden.
During this time, Brazilian colonial society was comprised of slaves of African descent, landowners, merchants, Portuguese representatives, religious, foremen, handicraftsmen and officials.
In 1808, the arrival of the Portuguese royal family to Brazil, escaping from Napoleon Bonaparte’s Continental Blockade in Europe, increased the discontent of the Brazilian elite, composed by landowners and merchants, who wanted to form a new nation and to break away from Portugal.
In 1815, Brazil was promoted to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Even though Brazil had acquired to a different political status, Portugal was constantly threatening to revoke the liberties achieved by Brazil and reinstate colonial conditions. At the same time the Brazilian elite were seeking full separation and political autonomy. It is at this time that the main character of September 7th, the regent Dom Pedro I, entered the scene and proclaimed the independence from Portugal in 1822, after having governed Brazil as regent since 1821.
In August 1822, Dom Pedro I didn’t allowed the Portuguese troops to disembark in Brazilian ports. In September, during a trip from Santos to São Paulo, he was informed, by letter, that he was required to return to Portugal and that all of his decisions would be revoked and annulled. This episode gave rise to the political separation of Brazil and Portugal.
Advised by his wife Maria Leopoldina and the political leader Jose Bonifácio, Dom Pedro I, with the support of the agrarian elite, proclaimed the independence of Brazil on September 7th, 1822, on the margins of the Ipiranga river, in São Paulo. In December, he was crowned as Brazilian Emperor.
Some further considerations are in order to understand this date, which remains the most important date in Brazilian history:
Although Brazil achieved political independence from Portugal, it remained subject to British economic interests, which at the time dominated global trade and supplied Brazil’s internal market with products;
The interests of the Brazilian elite, comprising landowners and merchants prevailed over all others; and
Independence did not change Brazil’s social bases, and the reliance on slaves of African descent, the organization of land around large states and the focus on external markets through exports remained unchanged;
For these reasons, September 7th, 1822 was irrelevant for a majority of Brazilian, as very little changed in their lives.
Scholars also point out that even for Dom Pedro I and the press at that time, the September 7th date was not so significant because the terms of the independence still required internal and external negotiations.
Still, September 7th should be a day of reflection for every Brazilian and an inspiration to work hard for a better, more just and tolerant country.
(*) Tércio Barbosa Ringolin has an extensive experience teaching Brazilian History, World History and Geography. He has 18 years of experience teaching at traditional institutions in São Paulo. He holds a degree in History from USP and in Social Sciences from UNESP. He is also co-author of didactic books of History and Geography with more than 1 million books sold.
