O second reign corresponds to the period from July 23, 1840 to November 15, 1889, when Brazil was under the reign of D. Pedro II (1825-1891).
It was characterized as a time of relative peace between the Brazilian provinces, the gradual abolition of slavery and the Paraguayan War (1864-1870).
It ends with the republican coup on November 15, 1889.
Second Reign Summary
The Second Reign is the moment when Brazil consolidates itself as a nation.
The country's political regime was the parliamentary monarchy, where the Emperor chose the President of the Council (equivalent to the position of prime minister) from a list with three names.
In economic terms, coffee is of fundamental importance, being the most exported product in Brazil. The first railroads and steamboats arrive with the aim of improving the circulation of the so-called "black gold".
In the midst of coffee prosperity, Brazil finds itself in a dilemma, as those who worked on the coffee plantations were enslaved people. Since the government of Dom João VI, the country had pledged to abolish slavery. However, the coffee elite was opposed, as this would entail economic losses. The solution is to end the menial work gradually.
It will be during the Second Reign that Brazil finds itself facing the biggest armed conflict in South America: the Paraguayan War.
Finally, without support from the rural elites and the army, the monarchy is overthrown through a military coup. The Imperial Family is forced to leave the country and the republic is installed.
Politics in the Second Reign
The Second Reign begins in 1840 with the Coup of Majority.
During the regency period, Brazil experienced a series of civil wars. With this, the Liberal Party proposes the anticipation of the majority of the heir to the throne, Dom Pedro. Some of the politicians understood that the lack of a central government was a danger to the country's unity.
The politics of the Second Reign are marked by the presence of two political parties:
- O Liberal Party, whose members were known as the “luzia”;
- O conservative party, whose members were known as the “saquarema”.
Strictly speaking, both parties defended elite ideas, such as the maintenance of slavery. They only differed in relation to central power, with liberals fighting for more provincial autonomy and conservatives for more centralization.
Because of your father's abdication, D. Pedro II he felt the need to change form of government. For this reason, in 1847, he implemented parliamentarism in Brazil.
Here, the system worked a little differently from that practiced in England. There, the prime minister was the deputy of the most voted party.
In Brazil, the President of the Council (prime minister) was chosen by the Emperor from a list with three names. This system became known as reverse parliamentarism.
The emperor also owned the Moderating Power, but this was used few times by the sovereign.
Compared to the regency period (1831-1840), there were not many internal conflicts during the Second Reign. However, we can mention some revolts such as:
- The beach revolution, from 1848-1850, in Pernambuco,
- the Muckers Revolt, in Rio Grande do Sul, in 1873-1874
- the Quebra-Quilos Revolt, in the northeast region, in 1872-1877.
Economy in the Second Reign
At that time, the excellent planting conditions in the Paraíba Valley (RJ) boosted coffee production and exports. Later, the coffee plantations would spread throughout São Paulo.
Brazil began to export more than it imported and the demand for coffee was so great that there was a need to increase the workforce.
However, in order to protect their businesses, coffee farmers frowned on attempts at any law that favored the abolition of slavery. Therefore, the landowners support the arrival of immigrants, especially Italians, to work in the coffee plantations.
As a result of the growth in coffee exports, the first railways were built and cities were born. The ports of Santos and Rio de Janeiro are thriving.
At that time, the first factories were set up in Brazil, albeit in isolation and largely due to the work of the Baron de Mauá.
Abolitionism in the Second Reign
This time is crucial for the process of abolition of enslaved people, as several societies and newspapers appear against this practice. Slaves mobilized through quilombos and religious brotherhoods, but they also asked for their freedom in court.
The abolition of slavery was not wanted by the farmers. These would lose the investment of buying enslaved people and would have to start paying wages, thus decreasing their profit margin.
In this way, they fight for the government to pay compensation for each freed slave.
As compensating the farmers was out of the question, the government promulgates laws that aim to gradually abolish menial labor. Are they:
- Eusébio de Queirós Law (1850);
- law of the free womb (1871);
- Sexagenarian Law (1887);
- Golden Law (1888).
Foreign Policy in the Second Reign
Paraguay War (1864-1870)
At the international level, Brazil was involved in friction with its neighbors, especially in the Prata region.
In response to the invasion of Rio Grande do Sul, the imperial government declared war on the Paraguayan dictator Solano López (1827-1870), in the episode known as Paraguay War. The conflict would still have the participation of Argentina and Uruguay, and would last for about five years.
Paraguay was defeated and Solano López killed by Brazilian soldiers. The Army was strengthened after the conflict and began to claim more space in national politics.
Christie question
Likewise, the government was implicated in the Christie Question (1863-1865) when there were incidents with British citizens on Brazilian soil. It is important to remember that British subjects were not tried by Brazilian courts if they committed any offense in the Empire of Brazil.
The Christie Question began with an altercation between British sailors and officers in Rio de Janeiro and the invasion and confiscation of five ships in the port of Rio de Janeiro by a British frigate.
The Brazilian government asked those responsible to respond in court in the country and that compensation be paid. Faced with the refusal of the British, Brazil broke diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom for two years.
End of the Second Reign and the Proclamation of the Republic
Throughout his government, D. Pedro II opposed the church, the military and the rural elite. All of this was withdrawing the support of important figures in the country for the throne.
Some episodes steered events towards a military coup. Examples are the demand that the church not comply with papal orders, without having been approved by the emperor, in what has gone down in history as the Religious Question.
However, it was the devaluation of the military and the end of slavery that most annoyed the elites and forced their deposition.
The military demanded more recognition, salary increases and promotions that were not carried out. All of this made some officials adhere to republican ideals.
Likewise, the landed elite could not support the idea of the abolition of slavery.
Thus, the Republic was instituted, without popular participation, on November 15, 1889 by the Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, who was the first president of Brazil.
There are more texts on the subject for you:- Coup of Age
- Monarchy
- Governing Period
- old republic
