Brazil: Independence Without a Republic

Brazil's path to independence differed sharply from Spanish America's. When Napoleon invaded Portugal in 1807, the Portuguese royal family fled to Rio de Janeiro under British protection, making Brazil the center of the empire. In 1815 Brazil was raised to a kingdom equal to Portugal. When King João VI returned to Lisbon in 1821, the Portuguese parliament tried to reduce Brazil's status.

His son Pedro, left behind as regent, refused to return and declared independence on 7 September 1822, becoming Emperor Pedro I. The result was independence without a republic and with relatively little warfare compared with Spanish America, and the country remained united. Slavery continued until 1888, and the monarchy until 1889. Comparison suggests that continuity of a legitimate ruler helped preserve unity, while the absence of a republican revolution also preserved slavery and social hierarchy.