From Growth to Collapse: Portugal, Brazil, and the Breakdown of the Old Colonial System (1750-1830)
The breakdown of the Portuguese-Brazilian empire has been a topic of controversy for a long time. The dispute has converged on matters of fact as much as on matters of interpretation. Historians on both shores of the Atlantic have failed to present a common perspective on basic issues, such as the nature and scope of the growth that preceded the collapse, or the timing, duration, and intensity of the crisis itself. Thus a variety of explanations have been offered for this major turning point, as scholars tried to analyze the consequences of the collapse of the old colonial system. However, beyond the controversy, the crucial significance of this period for the now diverging history of the two countries must be universally admitted. For Brazil, of course, this was the time of the birth of the nation, when crucial choices were made and many possible lines of historical development were discarded. Similarly, for Portugal this turn of events was very important. It meant that for the first time in nearly four hundred years the country had to sustain itself without an empire. The remaining colonies, that is, the trading posts and fortresses in Africa and in Asia, had virtually no economic or financial relevance. For almost a century the empire, or what remained, played a minor role in the Portuguese economy and, wishful expectations to the contrary notwithstanding, could not compensate for the loss of the vast American colony. As a result, Portuguese society had to undergo fundamental socioeconomic adjustments to accommodate this historical development. The climacteric nature of this historical process is unquestionably related to the contentious character of the interpretations it has elicited. Bearing this in mind, this essay presents the facts and reviews the main topics of this historiographical controversy. As an active participant in the controversial debates on this topic, I will refrain from restating my former arguments, although this