The advent of the Iberian Union, despite not promoting change in the social groups that controlled power in colonial Brazil, established a series of changes in some aspects of the colony. Spanish domination meant the end of the Treaty of Tordesillas and the crisis in the supply of African slaves in Brazilian lands. It is in this context that we notice the rise of the bandeirantes in the interior of the colony.
Deep into the interior forests, the pioneers ventured in search of drugs from the sertão, the recapture of African slaves who had fled in the quilombos and gold prospecting. In addition to these activities, the bandeirantes had great profits from the arrest of Indians destined for slave labor on the large properties of the coastal region. The lack of African slaves and the lower value of the indigenous slave created a large consumer market for this type of labor.
The commercialization of these enslaved Indians developed to the point where the pioneers started to establish contacts with the Spanish colonizers in the Rio da Prata region. This entire established business network had its action undertaken throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, and already represented an important commercial activity within the colony. Even some farmers got involved in the capture and sale of indigenous labor.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
With the end of the Iberian Union, in 1640, the Portuguese Crown interfered directly in the issue of indigenous enslavement. Economically weakened by the period of Hispanic domination, Portugal prohibited the enslavement of the Indians. With such measure, the Portuguese Crown sought to increase its profits with the trade of African slaves brought from the regions of the African coast.
Feeling directly harmed by such a measure, a group of Girl Guides from São Paulo organized a reprisal that expelled the Jesuit priests, also against indigenous slavery, from Vila de São Paul. In addition, they tried to ally themselves with the farmer and pioneer Amador Bueno in this revolt against the Portuguese administration. The São Paulo pioneers intended to elevate Amador Bueno to the condition of governor of São Paulo.
Amador Bueno, who feared some kind of reprisal from Portugal, did not join the movement and swore allegiance to the Crown. With this, the São Paulo Bandeirantes movement lost its support and the order for the end of indigenous slavery was maintained.
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "Acclaim of Amateur Bueno"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiab/aclamacao-amador-bueno.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
