It was all due to Napoleon! You will probably not hear this often but maybe i should be thanking him. My name is Adrianna and I am a twenty five year old woman from the city of Rio de Janerio, Brazil. I am now engaged to be wed next month which is rather old to be wed but I have been at home to help my mother take care of my four siblings. That day that Napoleon invaded the Iberian Peninsula was like any other day. I had to help pluck the chicken that my mother had planned on making a stew for dinner. She was mending some clothes and my father was out working. But behind all the normality was a pending doom. When the french took over Portugal, after they had taken over basically all of Europe, we had heard of it in my lands but never felt that it would affect us. Were we ever wrong. The Portugese royal family fled here, to Brazil! They were under that crazy lady Maria I and her son Dom John who is equally as crazy. At first after leaving Portugal they stayed in the town of Bahia which is about 1000 miles from us. I remember hearing my parents by the fire one night whispering about the way this may affect our nation and that were was talk about them making the trip to Rio. My mother was noticeably scared, I could tell by her pacing and trying to make sure me and my siblings were really asleep before talking to my father. He was clearly worried, my father is a rather logical person, so the idea that this may even worry him was a frightening thought. They finally reached the city of Rio in 1808 when I was seven. It was a rainy day but warm, I can recall the scent of the rain smacking against the warm soil. That was the last day my family and I lived the way we used to. When those people came to Rio they immediently took over. There commercial monopoly in Portugal had ended much like the rest of the nation, which brought trade to Brazil. He had the goal to rebuild our eonomy. He founded things that would be needed for like national banks, which is where my aunt Catherine was able to be empolyed at. In 1815 we actually were given equal standing to the Portugese. When my father had come back relaying that information for me I was actually able to understand the situation and thought that what the Portugese were doing was admirable. Though my family had been able to have enough to get by everywhere I had ever been in Rio was rough living conditions. I thought if the King wanted to fix that then maybe he was a good man after all. I never spoke these words to father though. When I went to the market I heard many people speak of the Kings popularity and that they were worried he would go back to Portugal and leave the prince in charge. While gathering bananas one day I learned that is exactly what had happened in 1821. The political issues in Portugal began to affect us in France and there was a chance that we would be reduced back to our colonial standards which now at the age of 21 living through both types of worlds was loca. Things had improved so much since the Portugese came that no one wanted to reverse the conditions. The people of Portugal feared that the prince was going to lead us into a revolt, which seemed plausible from my standing. So many people wanted to revolt. Leaders in Portugal tried to order the Prince back , which led to the Prince wanting to revolt. He courageoulsy forms a ministry and proclaims the independence of Brazil two years ago in 1822. I never expected that to happen. I met a man in the market once who was at the assembly where he announced it and said that it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. I wish more than anything I could have seen it but my father told me to stay home with my family. Then he was crowned emperior, a title much deserved if you ask me. He helped lead us out of the darkness of primitive living and defended our right to civilzation. So I guess deep down the nation of Brazil can be thankful for Napolean who led us to prince Dom John. -Sarah Walters
I found it kind of interesting that Napoleon did something that in return affected another group of people. I think it was interesting to hear about the changes that these people faced, and I liked the fact that you had an equal amount of story telling/ fiction and facts as well.
It is interesting that Napoleon was responsible for the independence of Brazil. It is also interesting that the Prince stood up for his people and declared Brazil’s independence. Usually reformers come from the middle class, but the Prince could have kept the power he had in Portugal without any thought of Brazil. Instead, he took a risk in breaking away from his home country and started a new one. He had no idea if the country would be successful or not, and that is truly liberal thinking. If he were conservative, he would have returned home where he knew he would be able to live and rule comfortably.
There were certain factors that allowed for the peaceful transition to independence in Brazil. First, the political leadership of Brazil were unnerved by the destruction that had taken place in the Spanish American Empire by the wars of independence. They did not want to go through that experience. Second, the political and social aristocrats in Brazil wanted to preserve slavery. The wars of independence elsewhere had generally led to the termination of serfdom. Any attempt to gain independence from Portugal through warfare might have caused social as well as political chaos that would endanger the institution of slavery.
I thought it was interesting how Sarah portrayed life before Napoleon,during, and after. She showed various steps through the peaceful transition in Brazil. Through her story, she was able to explain how a common person felt during the exchange in power in Brazil. I thought it was interesting how the character in this story grew up with this this conflict almost constantly being present in her life, the way you spread out the facts throughout the fiction made this story interesting. Lastly, I found it interesting how Napoleon invested so much time in a nation he had no idea of knowing the future of. The fact that the prince was the form of the government changes, rather than the lower classes fighting for it, really made this story stand out.
I felt like I was opening up a story book when I read this. The description used kept me interested and helped me follow along better. I found it particularly interesting that even though the king was so popular and worked so well in their government, he left. The man that the nation needed the most left and left the nation to fall. This showed me that they did not take good enough care.
I really enjoyed reading this story and it did continue to keep me interested because of the way it was told. I was surprised at how Napoleon had led the country of Brazil to gain its independence. As Kim said, you did a good job at showing what was going on in brazil before it gained it’s independence, and after. The fact that stuck out for me the most was how the royal family of Portugal fled to Brazil. I find it funny how, in times like this, the upper class don’t seem all powerful or fearless anymore. I think that most people feared the upper class because they have gotten used to the fact they would always be inferior to them. The upper class often dominated the lower and middle classes through fear. The more the people feared you, the better it was for you, if you were in the upper class. This reminds me of how Machiavellian leader were.
“It is better to be feared than to be loved.”
The upper class always ruled over everyone else because there was always a sense of fear established in the lower and middle classes. They often didn’t want to anger the upper class, and, at first, most of them stayed quiet and to themselves. As time went on though, the middle classes and lower classes started realizing that they were greater in number as compared to the upper class, and that they had the right to fight for what is rightfully theirs.
Hearing this story, I found it interesting how such a big country as Brazil was a mere colony while small Portugal owned and ran it. The refuge of the royal family in Brazil was almost like a gift sent from God for the Brazilians. Essentially it transformed Rio de Jeneiro into a court city, with expanded trade and expanded power. It was almost comical that this change happened in the early 19th century, because Brazil was far larger and more prosperous than Portugal itself. I guess, just because it is on the other side of the Atlantic, it cannot gain the same recognition as a European country.
I also wanted to mention that there was actual fighting that went on between the Brazilians and the Portuguese which showed that the Brazilians were passionate about their cause. The war between the Brazilians and Portuguese lasted from February 1822, with the burst of first skirmishes between militias, to November 1823, when the last Portuguese garrisons surrendered. Land and naval battles took place in Brazil, but they were not huge battles and not many people died. There are still no reliable statistics related to the numbers of war casualties. However based upon historical registration and contemporary reports of some battles of this war, and considering how long the Brazilian independence war lasted (22 months), estimates of all killed in action on both sides are placed from around 5,700 to 6,200. I felt that this post would enlighten some readers on the full scope of the Brazilian revolution and struggle for independence.
"It is bettered to be feared than to be loved" I like that statement Matt. It was really interesting to see people buckle under the pressure of change and revolt. I liked Sarah's story, following the life and maturity of a women through times of revolt. It's funny who one man's actions could forever alter the future of other nations. It also shows how people are capable to stand up for themselves and whats right.Tis story really does captivate a revolting nation and those who arecaught in the cross fire.
I found it interesting how Napoleon was responsible for a country half way around the worl gaining their independence. I also found it intersting that the Prince was so adiment about preserving the people's rights in a former territory and colony that they were so used to exploiting for their own gain.
I actually never knew that Napoleon had such an effect on the Brazilians. To add what Naz was talking about, how a larger country could be taken over and run by a smaller country. I think it all has to do with the dynamics of how unified a country is. Even though Brazil is larger in size they weren't as conncected, brought together, and unified as Portugal was. That made it easier for Portugal to come in and seize power. Just like how the Ottoman Empire fell because of their lack of effort in being unified, Brazil was the same and wasn't able to stay together.
It was all due to Napoleon! You will probably not hear this often but maybe i should be thanking him. My name is Adrianna and I am a twenty five year old woman from the city of Rio de Janerio, Brazil. I am now engaged to be wed next month which is rather old to be wed but I have been at home to help my mother take care of my four siblings. That day that Napoleon invaded the Iberian Peninsula was like any other day. I had to help pluck the chicken that my mother had planned on making a stew for dinner. She was mending some clothes and my father was out working. But behind all the normality was a pending doom. When the french took over Portugal, after they had taken over basically all of Europe, we had heard of it in my lands but never felt that it would affect us. Were we ever wrong. The Portugese royal family fled here, to Brazil! They were under that crazy lady Maria I and her son Dom John who is equally as crazy. At first after leaving Portugal they stayed in the town of Bahia which is about 1000 miles from us. I remember hearing my parents by the fire one night whispering about the way this may affect our nation and that were was talk about them making the trip to Rio. My mother was noticeably scared, I could tell by her pacing and trying to make sure me and my siblings were really asleep before talking to my father. He was clearly worried, my father is a rather logical person, so the idea that this may even worry him was a frightening thought. They finally reached the city of Rio in 1808 when I was seven. It was a rainy day but warm, I can recall the scent of the rain smacking against the warm soil. That was the last day my family and I lived the way we used to. When those people came to Rio they immediently took over. There commercial monopoly in Portugal had ended much like the rest of the nation, which brought trade to Brazil. He had the goal to rebuild our eonomy. He founded things that would be needed for like national banks, which is where my aunt Catherine was able to be empolyed at. In 1815 we actually were given equal standing to the Portugese. When my father had come back relaying that information for me I was actually able to understand the situation and thought that what the Portugese were doing was admirable. Though my family had been able to have enough to get by everywhere I had ever been in Rio was rough living conditions. I thought if the King wanted to fix that then maybe he was a good man after all. I never spoke these words to father though. When I went to the market I heard many people speak of the Kings popularity and that they were worried he would go back to Portugal and leave the prince in charge. While gathering bananas one day I learned that is exactly what had happened in 1821. The political issues in Portugal began to affect us in France and there was a chance that we would be reduced back to our colonial standards which now at the age of 21 living through both types of worlds was loca. Things had improved so much since the Portugese came that no one wanted to reverse the conditions. The people of Portugal feared that the prince was going to lead us into a revolt, which seemed plausible from my standing. So many people wanted to revolt. Leaders in Portugal tried to order the Prince back , which led to the Prince wanting to revolt. He courageoulsy forms a ministry and proclaims the independence of Brazil two years ago in 1822. I never expected that to happen. I met a man in the market once who was at the assembly where he announced it and said that it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. I wish more than anything I could have seen it but my father told me to stay home with my family. Then he was crowned emperior, a title much deserved if you ask me. He helped lead us out of the darkness of primitive living and defended our right to civilzation. So I guess deep down the nation of Brazil can be thankful for Napolean who led us to prince Dom John.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Walters
I found it kind of interesting that Napoleon did something that in return affected another group of people. I think it was interesting to hear about the changes that these people faced, and I liked the fact that you had an equal amount of story telling/ fiction and facts as well.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that Napoleon was responsible for the independence of Brazil. It is also interesting that the Prince stood up for his people and declared Brazil’s independence. Usually reformers come from the middle class, but the Prince could have kept the power he had in Portugal without any thought of Brazil. Instead, he took a risk in breaking away from his home country and started a new one. He had no idea if the country would be successful or not, and that is truly liberal thinking. If he were conservative, he would have returned home where he knew he would be able to live and rule comfortably.
ReplyDeleteThere were certain factors that allowed for the peaceful transition to independence in Brazil. First, the political leadership of Brazil were unnerved by the destruction that had taken place in the Spanish American Empire by the wars of independence. They did not want to go through that experience. Second, the political and social aristocrats in Brazil wanted to preserve slavery. The wars of independence elsewhere had generally led to the termination of serfdom. Any attempt to gain independence from Portugal through warfare might have caused social as well as political chaos that would endanger the institution of slavery.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how Sarah portrayed life before Napoleon,during, and after. She showed various steps through the peaceful transition in Brazil. Through her story, she was able to explain how a common person felt during the exchange in power in Brazil. I thought it was interesting how the character in this story grew up with this this conflict almost constantly being present in her life, the way you spread out the facts throughout the fiction made this story interesting. Lastly, I found it interesting how Napoleon invested so much time in a nation he had no idea of knowing the future of. The fact that the prince was the form of the government changes, rather than the lower classes fighting for it, really made this story stand out.
ReplyDeleteI felt like I was opening up a story book when I read this. The description used kept me interested and helped me follow along better. I found it particularly interesting that even though the king was so popular and worked so well in their government, he left. The man that the nation needed the most left and left the nation to fall. This showed me that they did not take good enough care.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this story and it did continue to keep me interested because of the way it was told. I was surprised at how Napoleon had led the country of Brazil to gain its independence. As Kim said, you did a good job at showing what was going on in brazil before it gained it’s independence, and after. The fact that stuck out for me the most was how the royal family of Portugal fled to Brazil. I find it funny how, in times like this, the upper class don’t seem all powerful or fearless anymore. I think that most people feared the upper class because they have gotten used to the fact they would always be inferior to them. The upper class often dominated the lower and middle classes through fear. The more the people feared you, the better it was for you, if you were in the upper class. This reminds me of how Machiavellian leader were.
ReplyDelete“It is better to be feared than to be loved.”
The upper class always ruled over everyone else because there was always a sense of fear established in the lower and middle classes. They often didn’t want to anger the upper class, and, at first, most of them stayed quiet and to themselves. As time went on though, the middle classes and lower classes started realizing that they were greater in number as compared to the upper class, and that they had the right to fight for what is rightfully theirs.
Hearing this story, I found it interesting how such a big country as Brazil was a mere colony while small Portugal owned and ran it. The refuge of the royal family in Brazil was almost like a gift sent from God for the Brazilians. Essentially it transformed Rio de Jeneiro into a court city, with expanded trade and expanded power. It was almost comical that this change happened in the early 19th century, because Brazil was far larger and more prosperous than Portugal itself. I guess, just because it is on the other side of the Atlantic, it cannot gain the same recognition as a European country.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to mention that there was actual fighting that went on between the Brazilians and the Portuguese which showed that the Brazilians were passionate about their cause. The war between the Brazilians and Portuguese lasted from February 1822, with the burst of first skirmishes between militias, to November 1823, when the last Portuguese garrisons surrendered. Land and naval battles took place in Brazil, but they were not huge battles and not many people died. There are still no reliable statistics related to the numbers of war casualties. However based upon historical registration and contemporary reports of some battles of this war, and considering how long the Brazilian independence war lasted (22 months), estimates of all killed in action on both sides are placed from around 5,700 to 6,200. I felt that this post would enlighten some readers on the full scope of the Brazilian revolution and struggle for independence.
"It is bettered to be feared than to be loved"
ReplyDeleteI like that statement Matt. It was really interesting to see people buckle under the pressure of change and revolt. I liked Sarah's story, following the life and maturity of a women through times of revolt. It's funny who one man's actions could forever alter the future of other nations.
It also shows how people are capable to stand up for themselves and whats right.Tis story really does captivate a revolting nation and those who arecaught in the cross fire.
I found it interesting how Napoleon was responsible for a country half way around the worl gaining their independence. I also found it intersting that the Prince was so adiment about preserving the people's rights in a former territory and colony that they were so used to exploiting for their own gain.
ReplyDeleteI actually never knew that Napoleon had such an effect on the Brazilians. To add what Naz was talking about, how a larger country could be taken over and run by a smaller country. I think it all has to do with the dynamics of how unified a country is. Even though Brazil is larger in size they weren't as conncected, brought together, and unified as Portugal was. That made it easier for Portugal to come in and seize power. Just like how the Ottoman Empire fell because of their lack of effort in being unified, Brazil was the same and wasn't able to stay together.
ReplyDelete