Liberal rebellions of 1842 (Empire of Brazil)

The 'Liberal Revolution of 1842' or Revolta dos Liberais was one of the seditious movements that shook Brazil during the Empire of Brazil.

Unrest in the provinces of Maranhão (Balaiada) and Rio Grande do Sul (Ragamuffin War) had not been fully resolved, when, in 1840, the young emperor Pedro II assumed the throne. Francisco de Lima's Liberal Party had pushed through the premature declaration of the Emperor's majority on 23 July 1840.

The Ministry, dominated by conservatives since March 23 of 1841, adopted centralizing measures which resulted in intense agitation from Liberals. But having undertaken the difficult step of the 'return', with the finalization of the laws of the November 9 and December 3, 1841, the Government did not intend to lose the game, because it had the upper hand. However, there was dissent stirring, for in May 1842 the Liberals would take over the House. To dismantle the political machine of the Liberals in São Paulo, the emperor dismissed Tobias de Aguiar and, after the short tenure of Melo Alvim, appointed José da Costa Carvalho, since Manuel Marques de Sousa, Count of Porto Alegre was a rich farmer identified with the Reactionaries.

In May 1842, the Liberals rebelled in the provinces of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais in retaliation for the Emperor's decision—on the advice of a Council of State dominated by Reactionaries—to call for new elections, annulling the previous election tainted by widespread fraud by the Liberal Party.

Tarquin quotes Manuel Marques de Sousa, Count of Porto Alegre: "They played the rebate church bells, met the City Council under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Colonel José Joaquim de Lacerda and after speeches and proclamations, Rafael Tobias de Aguiar was acclaimed acting president of the province." Tobias was sworn to "defend the Emperor and the Constitution until the last drop of his blood", named military commanders, dispatched emissaries, suspended the "law reform" and declared null and void acts performed under it.

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