Where was Brazil's Independence Day? Learn more about its History

Do you know where Brazil's Independence Day took place? Do you know the origin of this emblematic date for our country? Find out more about this date!

As everyone knows, Brazil has a series of commemorative dates to celebrate historical events in the country. 

Whether on a more local level – such as events involving specific cities or states – or even nationally – such as dates that cover the entire country.

Each of these dates have their own origin stories.

And each of these stories – as simple as they may seem – has its importance for the construction of Brazil.

And taking into account the commemorative dates that are celebrated throughout Brazil, we chose one of the most emblematic and historically significant dates for our country: September 7th, better known as Brazil's Independence Day.

The date may have already passed, but it is always good to explore our history and learn a little more about the origin of such an important date.

After all, where did Brazil's Independence Day take place? Are you really aware of everything that is behind the origin of this date?

In today's material, we will understand a little more about our history.

Here, we will discover the main points that contributed to the creation of one of the most significant commemorative dates in the country.

What was Brazil's Independence Day? | What is September 7th, one of the most emblematic dates in the country's history?

How did you enjoy the September 7th holiday? Did you travel, go sightseeing or just relax?

Since most of us are more interested in the break that a holiday like this can provide than in the historical facts that gave rise to this date, many people are not sure what September 7th really means.

But we are ready to give a brief contextualization about the date.

In general, the Independence of Brazil was the historical process that marked the separation between Portugal – the country responsible for the colonization of our country – and Brazil.

And despite having been made official on September 7, 1822, the entire process that resulted in this separation took place from 1821 to 1825.

After this brief summary, it's time to talk more about the origin of Independence Day 200 years ago.

And that will be the theme of the next topic!

What is the origin of Independence Day? 

We have many causes that explain Brazil's independence, which occurred in 1822, and most of them are linked to the transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil.

This transfer took place in 1808 and occurred due to Napoleonic troops invading Portugal and the Portuguese resistance to adhering to the continental blockade.

The arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family brought several changes to Brazil, such as the opening of ports, museums and freer trade.

As a result, the population of Rio de Janeiro increased considerably.

And around 1815, rumors began about Brazil ceasing to be just a colony of Portugal.

In 1817, with the Pernambucan Revolution, Brazil presented a condition that did not please Portugal and our country seemed more stable than ever.

Portugal was also facing a political and economic crisis and this crisis was directly linked to the absence of the king who was in Brazil due to the freedom we were gaining.

This created the so-called Cortes Gerais in Portugal, which aimed to contain the country's crisis.

The court demanded the demotion of Brazil and the immediate return of the King to Portugal.

In 1822, after several fights and unreasonable demands, Prince Dom Pedro demanded that his soldiers throw away the Portuguese symbols they were wearing in protest.

And finally, on September 7, 1822, Dom Pedro shouted on the banks of the Ipiranga River the famous phrase “Independence or Death” and from that moment on, Brazil was no longer part of Portugal.

Even though Brazil gained its independence from then on, it was only in 1825 that the process of separation between the two countries was finalized.

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Has Brazil's Independence always been celebrated on September 7th?

Despite being one of those dates that are instantly associated with the event it symbolizes, many people do not know that there were already two dates to celebrate Brazil's Independence.

In addition to the traditional September 7th – the date that actually marks the proclamation of our country's independence – October 12th was also considered to be the official date of independence.

Even though it occurred on September 7, 1822, due to the difficulty in spreading news throughout the country, most Brazilians did not find out about the event quickly.

The general population of Brazil only found out about this event on October 12, the date that marked the beginning of Dom Pedro I's reign as Emperor of Brazil.

The reason is simple: October 12th also marks the birthday of Dom Pedro I. And at that time, the birthday of this historical figure was a national holiday. 

And it was precisely the confusion caused by the proximity of the dates and the difficulty in sharing information that made the date eligible to be considered the official day of Brazil's independence.

But in the end, the traditional September 7th won this battle.

And this made it the official date of our country's independence.

Conclusion

So, did you like this brief lesson on the history of our country?

As you can see, there is a lot of historical significance behind Brazil's Independence Day holiday. It's no wonder that this has become one of the most iconic dates on our calendar.

And knowing a little more about the events that gave rise to this important date is a great way to explore the history of our country.

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