Slavery in Brazil

Slavery in Brazil, by Jean-Baptiste Debret (1768-1848)

Frans Post - Engenho de Pernambuco

Zacharias Wagner - Mercado de escravos no Recife

Domingos Jorge Velho

Recibo de venda da escrava nagô Francisca a Maria Antônia Teixeira

Slavery in Brazil began long before the first Portuguese settlement was established in 1532, as members of one tribe would enslave captured members of another. Later, colonists were heavily dependent on Indigenous slavery before transitioning to African slaves. The Portuguese Empire trafficked more African slaves to the Americas than any other country, and Brazil was the last country in the Western world to abolish slavery, on May 13, 1888, with the signing of the Lei Áurea by Princess Isabel.

History

The history of slavery in Brazil is divided into several phases. The initial phase was the enslavement of Indigenous peoples by the early Portuguese settlers. With the expansion of sugar cane plantations in the Northeast of Brazil, the demand for labor grew dramatically. The Indigenous peoples were not as resistant to European diseases and were not as suitable for the hard labor the plantations required, leading to the importation of African slaves.

The Transatlantic slave trade became the main source of labor. It is estimated that over four million slaves were brought to Brazil from Africa, which was about 40% of all slaves brought to the Americas. Slaves were primarily used in the sugar cane, coffee, and mining industries. They were subjected to brutal conditions, and their resistance led to numerous slave revolts, the most notable being the Malê Revolt in 1835.

Abolition

The movement towards the abolition of slavery in Brazil was gradual. The first significant step was the Lei do Ventre Livre ("Law of the Free Womb") in 1871, which declared that all children born to slave mothers would be free. This was followed by the Lei dos Sexagenários ("Law of the Sexagenarians") in 1885, granting freedom to slaves over 60 years old. Finally, the Lei Áurea ("Golden Law") was signed on May 13, 1888, by Princess Isabel, officially abolishing slavery in Brazil.

Legacy

The legacy of slavery is still felt in Brazil today. The country has the largest population of African descent outside Africa, and the impact of slavery on racial inequality is significant. Despite the abolition of slavery, Brazil continues to struggle with racial discrimination and socio-economic disparities among its citizens.

See also

• History of Brazil
• Afro-Brazilians
• Slave trade
• Abolitionism