The Declaration of age of Pedro II, also referred to as the Majority Coup in Brazilian history, happened on July 23, 1840, with the support of the Liberal Party and put an end to the Brazilian Regency period. The liberals mobilized the people, who pressured the Senate to declare Pedro II of legal age before he turned 15. In 1834, the Portuguese Parliament had already declared the age of majority for Maria II, Pedro II's sister, who became queen without a regent.
The main purpose of this act was to transfer power to Pedro II in order that he, although inexperienced, could put an end to the political disputes that were affecting Brazil through his authority. They believed that the figure of the Emperor would prevent the revolts occurring in the country, such as the Ragamuffin War, the Sabinada, the Cabanagem, the Malê Revolt and the Balaiada.
To assist Pedro II, the liberal Ministry of the Majority was created. It was also known as the Ministry of the Brothers, because it was composed, among others, of the Andrada brothers - Antônio Carlos and Martim Francisco, from São Paulo - and the Cavalcanti brothers - the future Viscounts of Albuquerque and Suassuna, from Pernambuco.
Pedro II's ascension to the throne de jure
Under pressure from society and the agrarian elite, Emperor Pedro I abdicated the throne on April 7, 1831, leaving his six-year-old son, Pedro de Alcântara, as the Brazilian heir.
Context of crisis in the First Reign
Characterized by economic, social and political crises, the First Reign preceded the Regency period and the government of Pedro II. During this period, the rules of the Brazilian electoral system were defined based on the Constitution of 1824, and the General Assembly, the highest legislative body, was created, comprising the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
There was also a rapprochement between the state and religion. The influence of the Catholic Church on national political relations was reflected in the requirement that clerics be treated as civil servants and receive income from the Empire. In addition, decisions taken by the Church had to be approved by the Emperor.
The decline and end of the First Reign is related to numerous factors, including the situation in Portugal, Brazil's liberal opposition and the loss of Cisplatina.
Cisplatine War
When the Uruguayans occupied the Cisplatine Province with the help of the Argentine government, political crises aggravated the government of Pedro I. After the loss of the territory, an economic crisis was created when the Spanish colonies recovered their sugar production. They also gained their independence and normalized exports.
In order to resolve the deficits after the defeat in the Cisplatine War, Pedro I fomented more dissatisfaction by issuing unbridled paper money. Inflation ensued and the poorest sections of the population lost their purchasing power.
Crown succession crisis in Portugal
After the Cisplatine War, King João VI appointed Pedro as his successor in Portugal. In May 1826, he accepted and returned to his native country to become King Pedro IV. However, the Brazilian constitution prohibited the Emperor of the country from holding the title of Regent of Portugal at the same time.
A month after being crowned Portuguese king, Pedro I abdicated the throne and guaranteed the succession to his firstborn, Maria II. On his return to Brazil, the Emperor found a disorganized and weakened political environment.
Opposition in Brazil
For the Portuguese, Pedro I was the heir to the Crown, but for the Brazilians, he should have had no connection with Portugal. Even after abdicating the throne, he faced strong opposition in Brazil. The situation faced by the Emperor ranged from financial difficulties, due to the bankruptcy of the first Bank of Brazil, to personal problems. With an increasingly damaged image, numerous protests against the Empire had emerged in the country.
From 1835 onwards, the idea of anticipating the coming of age of Pedro de Alcântara to began to gain force. The large land and slave owners were skeptical of the process of political-administrative decentralization initiated by the authorities during the Regency period. At the same time, the social revolts that broke out in various provinces demanded some measure to guarantee order and social peace. People believed that only the re-establishment of monarchical authority could contain the excesses of local powers and appease dissent.