1661-1750 1807-1822







Brazil, 1750-1808



In 1727, Francisco de Melo Palheta introduced coffee to Brazil, obtained from French Guiana. In the 1760es, coffee began to become a major plantation crop, soon to cover a considerable share in Brazil's exports, and again an incentive for the import of more African slaves. During the 18th century, the penetration of the vast rain forest region intensified. The Treaty of Tordesillas by now was history, the Portuguese penetrating beyond the limit established by it, and clashing with the Spanish in Uruguay (1680/1724). In 1777 the Treaty of San Ildefonso redrew the line of demarcation, in favour of the Portuguese. In 1752-1774, a separate currency was issued for Minas Gerais. From 1799, counterfeit coin production caused inflation.
The quest for Indios, prospective slaves, which were hunted by the Paulistas (from Sao Paulo), had been the cause of conflict between Portuguese Brazil and the Spanish administration of La Plata. Here, Portuguese Brazil came in conflict with the Jesuit missions, on Spanish territory and under the protection of the Catholic Church, which offered protection to the Guarani and other Amerindians.
Minister Jose de Carvalo e Melo (since 1770 Marquis de Pombal) was Portugal's strongman 1750-1777. He was intent on implementing political reforms, to modernize her economy. He was the driving force behind Portuguese attempts to have Brazil's border redrawn; he curtailed the power of the Inquisition by decreeing that every sentence by the Inquisition required royal confirmation. He abolished the legal discrimination against new christians and against Jews (1773). He terminated Jesuit control over the Amerindian villages (1755) and ordered the education of the Amerindians be conducted in Portuguese; according to Worcester (p.47), it was Pombal who introduced Portuguese as lingua franca in Brazil, replacing Tupi Guarani. In mercantilist spirit, monopolies were granted; the Companha Grao Para e Maranhao obtained a monopoly on trade with Maranhao and Para, the Real Companha dos Vinhos do Alto Douro a monopoly on the import of wine to Brazil.
In 1759 the Jesuits were expelled from Portuguese possessions, in 1767 from the Viceroyalty of La Plata (the missions had been under the protection of Spain) and the missions were destroyed.
In 1763, the capital of Portuguese Brazil was moved from Salvador (Bahia) to Rio de Janeiro. Rio had grown in importance as main export harbour for the ores/minerals found in Minas Gerais. In 1763, Brazil was elevated to the status of a viceroyalty. In 1774, Maranhao was reannexed into Brazil.
The first Masonic lodge was established in Rio de Janeiro in 1800.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		Articles from Columbia Encyclopedia (infoplease) : Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Article from Catholic Encyclopedia : Brazil
Articles from Wikipedia : History of Brazil, Pernambuco, History of, Salvador, Maranhao, Rio de Janeiro, History of, Minas Gerais, History of
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE Boris Fausto, A Concise History of Brazil, Cambridge Concise Histories, 1999, 362 pp.
David Birmingham, A Concise History of Portugal, Cambridge Concise Histories, 1993, 203 pp.
Donald E. Worcester, Brazil, from Colony to World Power, NY : Scribner 1973



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on October 21st 2005

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