Which of the following events led to Brazil’s independence?
A. Getúlio Vargas' overthrow of the government
B. the liberation of enslaved Afro-Brazilians
C. Simón Bolívar's uprising
D. Napoleon's invasion of Portugal
D. Napoleon's invasion of Portugal
D. Napoleon's invasion of Portugal
The event that led to Brazil's independence is D. Napoleon's invasion of Portugal. To elaborate on how this event led to Brazil's independence, we need to understand the historical context.
In the early 19th century, Brazil was a colony of Portugal. However, when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal in 1807, the Portuguese royal court fled to Brazil with the help of the British navy. This move known as the "Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil" marked a significant turning point in the process of Brazil's independence.
With the royal court now located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil gained a new level of political importance. This allowed for increased political and economic autonomy for Brazil. In 1815, Brazil was elevated from a colony to a kingdom within the Portuguese Empire, as befitting its new status.
However, after Napoleon's defeat and the restoration of the Portuguese monarchy in 1820, tensions between Brazil and Portugal rose. The Portuguese government sought to reimpose its control over Brazil, leading to resistance from the Brazilian elites. Dom Pedro, the son of the Portuguese king and prince regent in Brazil, navigated these tensions and became a symbol of Brazilian nationalism.
On September 7, 1822, in response to increasing pressure from Portugal, Dom Pedro declared Brazil's independence from Portugal and became Emperor Pedro I of Brazil. This event marked the official break from Portuguese rule and established Brazil as an independent nation.
In conclusion, while events such as the liberation of enslaved Afro-Brazilians and political uprisings like Simón Bolívar's did play important roles in shaping Brazil's history, it was Napoleon's invasion of Portugal and the subsequent transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil that directly led to Brazil's independence.