Portugal Expands

            Brazil, unlike most Latin American countries, was not conquered by Spain, but was rather conquered by Portugal.  In the conquering by the Portuguese, there are a few similarities, but it was mostly a completely different experience. 

            For the numerous other Latin American countries they were violently taken over by the Spanish, with their ways forced upon them, but with the Portuguese it was much simpler, even though they did kill many natives through the accidental introduction of deadly diseases they did not use weapons to take over.  Made evident by Simon Collier when he stated,” The high (if brutal) drama which accompanied Spain’s colonization of Mexico and Peru was almost wholly absent from the Portuguese settlement of Brazil.”(3)  They instead, when first arriving, began settling in Brazil along with the natives, who gave little rebellion. Their intended purpose was to trade vast amounts of Brazil wood, until the trade became redundant.  The Portuguese culture was also very strong and made sense to many natives further ingraining the Colonists into their new found colony. (4)

            These are a few reasons for the difference between the Portuguese colonization and the Spanish colonization.  The special circumstances that surround the conquest set the stage for the rest of Brazil’s future, but more immediately the life of the natives in the colonies and their freedom.

Enslavement?

            The different situation for the conquest majorly impacts the types of life a native could have while under the control of the Portuguese.  Although mostly peaceful, the Portuguese were from Europe and brought along with them certain inclinations that were both harmful to the natives and beneficial for themselves.

            For the natives you could go down two different paths, mediocre or harsh treatment.  Despite the European thought of white supremacy, they did allow certain natives to be better treated; these were the ones that converted into Jesuits. (5)  If a native were to convert, they would get a few opportunities, rather than the little to none that the other natives were subjected to.  They also were mostly safe from enslavement from the Portuguese, as these converts were seen as more civilized and European. (5)

            This is a very unique situation, because when most colonies were started, the natives were either slaughtered or they were enslaved, but never given rights.  These benefits greatly endorsed the Portuguese culture, because the thought of the Portuguese culture came along with the thought of freedom and rights.

Liberation!

            The most important figure in Brazilian independence was not a Brazilian, nor a colonist, however it was Portuguese royalty. (2)  After many years of the Brazilian colony controlling the entire Portuguese empire, because of Napoleons expansion into Portugal, there arose a time when the newly appointed king was forced to return to Portugal.(1)  After returning he sent a son, Dom Pedro, to rule as its regent.  This is one more thing that sets colonial Brazil apart from many colonies around the world.

            When Dom Pedro initially arrived, he fulfilled his duties to run Brazil, which had then grown in power enough to equal their mother country of Portugal.  Eventually he came to the realization of the actual power and autonomy of the colony.  As David Strang reveals,” while autonomy in Argentina and Brazil resulted from Napoleon’s invasion of Spain and Portugal.”(1)  At this revelation he decided to create an official decree that would free Brazil from a colony into its own country.  This didn’t go as smooth as it could have, though for many countries still thought of it as a colony and did not recognize it as anything besides that.  Which eventually ended as the United States of America was the first country to recognize it, coming from their background as a country that freed itself. After the recognition, Portugal eventually saw clearly the potential and ability of Brazil and recognized it as its own country as well, with the rest of Europe quickly following suit.

            Without the clear guidance of Dom Pedro, Brazil could have taken a much darker path with their eventual freedom in the air.  With Dom Pedro’s royal background, his word also carried heavily not just in Brazil and Portugal, but also around the world. His decree set the events in motion for Brazil’s eventual climb to a very successful nation.