THE INDEPENDENCE OF BRAZIL Despite its isolation Brazil could not escape the effects of the revolutionary and Napoleonic epoch in Europe. Brazil is the only instance of a colony becoming the seat of government of its own mother country. When in 1807 Napoleon resolved upon the in vasion and conquest of Portugal the prince regent, afterwards Dom John VI., realizing the futility of resistance, decided to take refuge in Brazil. After creating a regency he sailed from the Tagus on Nov. 29, 1807, accompanied by the royal family and a horde of nobles and functionaries. After a short sojourn at Bahia the court arrived safely at Rio on March 7, 1808. The colonists, convinced that a new era had dawned for Brazil, wel comed their sovereign with tremendous enthusiasm. Their ex pectations were in a measure realized, for the prince regent promptly decreed a number of reforms which radically changed the status of the colony. The harbours of Brazil were opened to the commerce of all friendly nations, thus abolishing the old Portuguese commercial monopoly. A ministry with four port folios and a council of State were installed in Rio. A supreme court of justice, a court of exchequer and royal treasury, the royal mint, the Bank of Brazil, the royal printing office were established. A royal library, a military academy and medical and law schools were founded. Industries were encouraged, foreign scholars and artists received a hearty welcome, immigrants were brought in at Government expense. The changed status of Brazil was reflected in the decree of Dec. 16, 1815, by which the Portuguese dominions were designated the "United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves." In the year following, the insane queen, Dona Maria I., died, and the prince regent became king with the title of Dom John VI.
Although Dom John enjoyed a certain degree of personal popularity his government, corrupt and extravagant, aroused much opposition, which was still further increased by the fermentation of liberal ideas produced by the French revolution. In Pernambuco a revolt broke out in 1817, and was put down with difficulty after a republic had been formed which lasted for 90 days. Still more critical was the situation in Lisbon. After the departure of the French, Portugal had been governed by an arbitrary and tyrannical regency. The growing discontent found vent in the revolution of 1820. The regency was swept aside and the Cortes, which had not met for over a century, was summoned for the purpose of drawing up a constitution. The presence of Dom John in Portugal was imperative if the revolution ary movement was to be kept in hand. On April 22, 1821, he ap pointed his son Dom Pedro regent and two days later set sail for Lisbon. The tasks confronting the young prince were truly formidable. Antagonisms between the Portuguese and Brazilians were becoming increasingly bitter, republican propaganda was active, and, worst of all, Dom Pedro had to face the responsibility of a separation of Brazil from Portugal as a result of the short sighted policy of the Cortes at Lisbon. The majority of this assembly were in favour of restoring Brazil to her former status of colonial dependence. Without waiting for the Brazilian depu ties they proceeded to undo most of the reforms introduced into Brazil by Dom John. Fearful lest Dom Pedro might head a movement for independence, the prince was ordered to return to Europe "in order to complete his political education." These acts aroused great indignation in Brazil. Supported by the majority of the Brazilians Dom Pedro openly defied the Cortes by his refusal to return to Lisbon. In Jan. 1822 he formed a ministry in which the chief portfolios were held by two distin guished Paulistas, Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva and his brother, Carlos Antonio. The former, known as the "Patriarch of Independence," was a scholar of European reputation and proved at this critical juncture a tower of strength to the young regent. Events followed rapidly. On June 3 Dom Pedro convoked a leg islative and constituent assembly. On Sept. 7, on the plain of Ypiranga, near the city of Sao Paulo, he solemnly proclaimed the independence of Brazil, and on Dec. 1, 1822, was crowned em peror. With the co-operation of Lord Cochrane, an able British naval officer who had entered Brazilian service, the strong Portu guese garrisons were forced to return to Europe. Before the end of 1823 independence had become an accomplished fact, although Portuguese recognition was not secured until 1825.
