What was the Coup of Coming of Age?

O Coup of Age, also known as Declaration of Majority, guaranteed accession to the throne of D. Pedro II, on July 23, 1840, at 14 years of age.

The anticipation of adulthood was the Liberal Party's strategy to end the Regency Period (1831-1840), when Brazil was governed by regency.

This happened because of the abdication of D. Pedro I (father of D. Pedro II) as Emperor of the Country. The heir was only five years old at the time.

Therefore, Pedro de Alcântara João Carlos Leopoldo Salvador Bibiano Francisco Xavier de Paula Leocádio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Bragança e Bourbon (full name of D. Pedro II) was declared of legal age.

Dom Pedro II, aged 12 (1837)

D. Pedro II, the second and last emperor of Brazil

The objective of the Coup of Majority was to restore political stability to Brazil. The country was marked by political and social clashes in the first reign (1822-1831) and which remained in the Regency Period (1831-1840).

During the First Reign, which began in 1822, D. Pedro I was a centralizing emperor, displeasing many of his supporters. With the death of Dom João VI, in Portugal, Dom Pedro I took over as king of this country, and was divided between Brazil and Portugal. In this way, D. Pedro I was forced to abdicate the Brazilian throne.

His successor, D. Pedro II was only 5 years old. For this reason, the country came to be governed by regents, who were represented by political groups (liberal and conservative) that defended different principles.

The dispute for power resulted in a series of revolts, such as the Guerra dos Farrapos, Cabanagem, Balaiada and the Sabinada.

Reasons for the Coup of Adulthood

Many believed that instability was caused especially as a result of the omission of a strong figure to govern the country. However, the Constitution of 1824 provided for the age of majority of the emperor only at the age of 18 (art.121).

Liberals, however, conceived the idea that power had to be centralized again. Therefore, they presented a bill that anticipated the age of majority to be voted on by the Chamber on three occasions.

Likewise, the ClubgivesAge of majority, led by Antônio Carlos de Andrada e Silva. The strategy was to reduce the age of the emperor so that D. Pedro II, who conveyed the idea of ​​national unity, could assume the leadership of Brazil.

D. Pedro II started the Second Empire of Brazil, whose period comprises the dates of July 23, 1840 to November 15, 1889, date of the coup of the Republic, also known as the Proclamation of the Republic.

Read too:

• Governing Period
• second reign