- Liberal Revolution of 1820
The Liberal Revolution of 1820 ("Revolução Liberal") was a political revolution that erupted in
1820 , unchained via a military insurrection in the city ofPorto , northernPortugal , that spread to the rest of the country. The 1820 liberal revolution initiated the constitutional period in which the approval of the 1822Constitution took place. The newliberalist ideas had an influence upon the Portuguese society and political organization.Historical background
From 1807 to 1811, the Napoleonic French forces invaded Portugal for three times. As a result, the Portuguese Royal Family fled to the Portuguese colony of
Brazil , where it remained until 1821, the period of the liberal revolution. From Brazil, the Portuguese king João VI ruled his huge empire for 13 years. The turmoil aroused in Portugal and the defeat of the occupation French forces in Portugal, put an end to his long stay in the Portuguese territory of Brazil. [CasaHistória website, [http://www.casahistoria.net/Brazil.htm#Independence "Independence and Empire"] , retrieved12 June 2007 ] The city ofPorto , with a strong, dynamic bourgeoisie and faithful to its liberal tradition, was the place from where the Liberal Revolution arose in 1820.The revolution and the aftermath
Influenced by the recent Liberal Revolution in Spain on January 1, 1820, a liberal revolution started in Porto, quickly spreading without resistance to several other Portuguese cities and towns, culminating with the revolt of Lisbon. The revolutionaries demanded the immediate return of the Royal Court to
mainland Portugal in order to "restore the metropolitan dignity". In fact, the liberal revolution of 1820 forced the return ofJohn VI of Portugal . It was also demanded aconstitutional monarchy to be set up in Portugal. Finally, the revolutionaries wanted to restore Portuguese exclusivity of trade with Brazil, reverting Brazil to the status of a colony (officially the "Principality of Brazil ") instead ofKingdom of Brazil which was one of the constituent parts of theUnited Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves .After João VI returned to Portugal in 1821 due to the Liberal Revolution of 1820 that had erupted in the city of
Porto , his heir-apparent Pedro became regent of the Kingdom of Brazil. Following a series of political events and disputes, Brazil conquered its independence from Portugal onSeptember 7 ,1822 . OnOctober 12 ,1822 , Pedro was acclaimed as the first Emperor of Brazil. He was crowned onDecember 1 ,1822 . Portugal recognized Brazil's sovereignity in 1825.References
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