Brazil's independence is one of the central themes to understand our history.
That's why it is one of the most demanded subjects in school tests, ENEM and entrance exams.
With that in mind, we have prepared a series of 10 exercises with the commented template for you to test your knowledge of this content. Good study!
Easy level
question 1
One of the facts that made Brazil's independence process different from other Hispanic American nations was:
a) The Portuguese Royal Family coming to Brazil.
b) The Napoleonic Wars in Europe.
c) Enlightenment ideas that emerged in France.
d) The crisis of the colonial system
Correct alternative: The Portuguese Royal Family coming to Brazil
The arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family in Brazil changed the scenario of colonial policy. Due to the existence of a centralized government, several revolts were contained and the colony would eventually be elevated to the category of United Kingdom, in 1815.
The other alternatives are wrong, as they also influenced the independence of the other colonies in America.
question 2
The expansion of the Napoleonic Empire directly reflected in the independence of Brazil, as:
a) Portugal supported England and was forced to fight by her side against Bonaparte, leaving the colonies abandoned.
b) Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal, the Portuguese Royal Family went to Brazil and thus, Brazilians gained more commercial advantages.
c) The Napoleonic battles changed the European map causing Portugal to modernize its army and become stronger.
d) The French invaded Portugal and helped the Brazilians to fight Dom João VI.
Correct alternative: b) Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal, the Portuguese Royal Family went to Brazil and thus, Brazilians gained more commercial advantages.
With the Napoleonic invasion, the seat of the Portuguese government moved to Rio de Janeiro and there the opening of ports was decreed, which allowed Brazilians to trade with the whole world.
a) WRONG. Portugal was on the side of England, but did not need to fight by their side against Napoleon.
c) WRONG. Portugal did not modernize its army after the Napoleonic wars.
d) WRONG. The French invaded Portugal, but they didn't help the Brazilians fight the Portuguese.
question 3
During the discussions for the independence of Brazil, the Enlightenment was one of the philosophical currents that influenced this process.
Mark the alternative that expresses the influence of the Enlightenment on Brazil's independence.
a) The Enlightenment did not have much influence in Brazil, as there was strong censorship in the Portuguese colony.
b) The illustrated movement was essential for the elaboration of the Constitution of 1824, which provided for an exclusive power for the Emperor, the Moderating Power.
c) Enlightenment ideas served as a starting point for the abolition of slavery that took place soon after independence.
d) The defense of the notions of freedom among human beings and equality among all peoples and nations.
Correct alternative: d) The defense of the notions of freedom among human beings and equality among all peoples and nations.
Enlightenment ideas provided the ideological basis for the Brazilian elite to think about the possibility of separating from Portugal, as the colonial system was incompatible with the Enlightenment.
a) WRONG. Although there was censorship, Enlightenment ideas arrived in Brazil through smuggled books.
b) WRONG. The Moderating Power is not inspired by Enlightenment ideas, which only provided for three branches of government: Judiciary, Executive and Legislative.
c) WRONG. Enlightenment ideas were the inspiration for the abolition of slavery, but this would only occur in 1889 and not after independence.
Middle level
question 4
Look carefully at Pedro Américo's painting, “Independence or death”.
Check the correct alternative about this work:
a) The painting exalts the figure of Dom Pedro I as the only protagonist of the Brazilian emancipatory process.
b) The work had no importance in the construction of the Brazilian imagination, as it remained hidden throughout most of the 20th century.
c) The function of the painting was merely decorative, as it was commissioned by Dom Pedro II to preserve the memory of his father.
d) The painting is extremely fanciful, as said fact did not actually occur.
Correct alternative: a) The painting exalts the figure of Dom Pedro I as the only protagonist of the Brazilian emancipatory process.
Pedro Américo's painting places Dom Pedro I as the central character of the Independence of Brazil, omitting the differences in the emancipatory projects and names like José Bonifácio or the Princess Dona Leopoldine.
b) WRONG. The work is one of the ones that most influenced the Brazilian imagination, as it was reproduced in all textbooks on the country's history.
c) WRONG. The painting was a tribute from Dom Pedro II to his father, which is expressed in the composition where Dom Pedro I occupies the center of the painting. However, it was not just decorative, as it expressed a particular vision of independence.
d) WRONG. The fact occurred and there are several written testimonies that describe it.
question 5
Historian Sérgio Buarque points out that "... the elevation of the former colony to the dignity of a kingdom was, on the other hand, the recognition of a de facto situation. (...) a political act in the broad sense (...) ). A feeling of such order - that, in addition to ensuring smooth administration, it allowed for imperialist plans to be forged in the direction of the Prata and even if they revived dreams of a continental amplitude - it would tie the Crown to Brazil, and Brazil to Monarchy."
( http://www.multirio.rj.gov.br/historia/modulo02/elevacao_brasil.html consulted 21.07.2020)
According to the text, the elevation of Brazil to the United Kingdom was essential for the country:
a) Make way for the formation of a great Portuguese-American and African kingdom.
b) Recognize that Brazilians were superior and definitively conclude the move from Portuguese capital to Brazil.
c) To wage various wars of territorial conquest against its neighbors.
d) Have the right to send deputies to the courts in Lisbon and legal equality with Portugal.
Correct alternative: d) Have the right to send deputies to the courts in Lisbon and legal equality with Portugal.
a) WRONG: The Portuguese colonies in Africa were not part of this union.
b) WRONG. The elevation of Brazil to the United Kingdom fulfilled a bureaucratic requirement of the Congress of Vienna.
c) WRONG. No wars were fought against neighbors because of this fact.
question 6
In the first half of the nineteenth century, the colonies of Portugal and Spain, in America, proclaimed their independence from the metropolis. Check the option that shows the difference about the consequence of this process:
a) The Hispanic colonies were helped by the United States and adopted liberal Protestant thought after the separation from Spain.
b) The process of Brazilian emancipation was entirely peaceful, while in Spanish America there were wars that claimed a large part of the population.
c) The Hispanic colonies adopted the republican regime while Brazil became a constitutional monarchy.
d) After the independence of the Hispanic colonies, ex-slaves achieved greater social participation, but in Brazil, the slave labor regime remained.
Correct alternative: c) The Hispanic colonies adopted the republican regime while Brazil became a constitutional monarchy.
The big difference between the countries of South America, after independence, was the choice of political regime that was adopted by the new nations. Brazil adopted the constitutional monarchy, while the presidential republic was the choice of the former Hispanic-American colonies.
a) WRONG: The Hispanic colonies were not helped by the United States, nor did they adopt a liberal stance.
b) WRONG. There were fights to expel Portuguese troops from Brazil.
d) WRONG. The freedmen, in Hispanic America, did not achieve representation in politics, after slavery was abolished.
question 7
(Enem/2010) Read the text:
“I, the Prince Regent, make it known to those who have this License to come: that wishing to promote and advance national wealth, and being one of the sources of it, manufactures and industry, I am served to abolish and revoke any and all prohibitions in this respect in the State of Brazil".
(Permit of freedom for industries (April 1, 1808). In: Bonavides, P.; Amaral, R. Political texts from the history of Brazil. Vol. 1. Brasília: Federal Senate, 2002 (adapted).
The industrializing project of D. João, as expressed in the alvará, did not materialize. What features of this period explain this fact?
a) The occupation of Portugal by French troops and the closing of Portuguese factories.
b) The Portuguese dependence on England and the English industrial predominance over its trade networks.
c) The distrust of the colonial industrial bourgeoisie in the face of the arrival of the Portuguese royal family.
d) The confrontation between France and England and the dubious position assumed by Portugal in international trade.
e) The industrial backwardness of the colony caused by the loss of markets for Portuguese industries.
Correct alternative: The Portuguese dependence on England and the English industrial predominance over its trade networks.
English manufactured products arrived in Brazil very cheaply and, therefore, it was not worth producing anything in the country, as it would not be profitable. Thus, Brazilian industrialization was unable to emerge at this time.
a) WRONG: The occupation of Portugal by French troops has nothing to do with the industrialization process in Brazil.
c) WRONG. There was no industrial bourgeoisie in the colony.
d) WRONG. Portugal, from 1807, no longer had dubious positions in relation to the European conflict, choosing to be on the side of its old ally, England.
e) WRONG. There weren't so many industries in Portugal and neither the colony's production was destined to these industries.
Hard level
question 8
Read the texts below:
I. The Battle of Pirajá was a major milestone in the struggle for independence in Bahia. On November 8, 1822, Brazilian troops prevented the Portuguese advance to the interior of the state, imposing a military and political defeat on the Portuguese forces.
II. “The sun rises on the 2nd of July/ It shines more than the first one/ It's a sign that on this day/ Even the sun is Brazilian” (Hino da Bahia)
(Bahia independence: The consolidation of nationalism and the emergence of new heroes of the Fatherland. Army News, 07/02/2019.)
Both excerpts contradict one of the myths about Brazil's independence. Check the excerpt that expresses this question correctly:
a) The tension of choosing September 7th, July 2nd or November 8th as the magna emancipation date of Brazil.
b) The Independence of Brazil was a peaceful process devoid of military struggles throughout Brazilian territory.
c) All those involved in Brazil's independence agreed on the political and economic aspects of the situation.
d) Portugal tried to recover the Brazilian territory through a peaceful and non-military way.
Correct alternative: b) The Independence of Brazil was a peaceful process devoid of military struggles throughout Brazilian territory.
One of the myths of Brazilian independence is that there were no fights on national territory. However, several Portuguese troops rebelled and were only contained a year after the formal proclamation of political emancipation. Both excerpts - the report and the hymn - refer to this theme. Therefore, the other alternatives are incorrect.
question 9
The recognition of Brazil's independence by Portugal was sealed by the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro, in 1825, which said:
Art. 6th – All property of real estate, or movables, and shares, kidnapped or confiscated, belonging to the subjects of both sovereigns, of Portugal and of Brazil, shall be soon refunded, as well as their past income, less administration expenses, their owners reciprocally indemnified in the manner stated in the art. 8.º
Art. 7th – All seized vessels and cargo, belonging to the subjects of both sovereigns, will be similarly returned or their owners indemnified.
These issues have been resolved:
a) Through the mediation of France and with loans granted by that country.
b) Through the payment of an indemnity to Portugal with credits assigned by England.
c) With a bloody war between Portugal and Brazil.
d) In an international dispute that would only be resolved with the intervention of the United States.
Correct alternative: b) Through the payment of an indemnity to Portugal with credits granted by England.
To consolidate Brazil's independence, the government paid Portugal compensation. However, as there were no funds available, the country had to take out a loan with England to pay it off.
a) WRONG: France did not interfere in the negotiations between Portugal and Brazil.
c) WRONG. There was war between Brazil and Portugal, but not to solve the problems reported in the articles.
d) WRONG. The United States did not mediate between Brazil and Portugal.
question 10
About the Independence of Brazil, it is correct to say:
a) the independence of Brazil is carried out with active popular participation, practically driven by the people.
b) stimulated the creation of several autonomous communities that were legitimized through the Constitution of 1824.
c) the agrarian elite, defenders of political liberalism, fought not only for political emancipation, but also the establishment of a republic.
d) the winning project contemplated the maintenance of slavery, the separation between Brazil and Portugal and the continuity of Dom Pedro on the throne.
Correct alternative: d) the winning project contemplated the maintenance of slavery, the separation between Brazil and Portugal and the continuity of Dom Pedro on the throne.
The independence of Brazil was the result of an alliance between the agrarian elite, who kept their privileges, and Dom Pedro I, who received the throne of the new country.
a) WRONG: There was no great popular participation in the process of emancipation in Brazil.
b) WRONG. All attempts at regional independence were defeated by the central government.
c) WRONG. The agrarian elite did not fight for the establishment of a republic at the time of independence.
There are more texts on the subject for you:
- Independence of Brazil
- Causes of Brazilian Independence
- Enlightenment
