By Me. Cláudio Fernandes
From the mid-seventeenth century, with the colonial system already set up in its mercantile and slave-like structure, Brazil had to face a series of rebellions in much of its territory. . These rebellions were called by several researchers as Rebellions Nativists , as they were mostly organized by native Brazilians. The Inconfidência Mineira is one of the most patent examples, the Conjuration Baiana , other.
The Baiana Conjuration became also known as Conjuração dos tailors , since a large part of its members was composed of poor and mestizo men, soldiers, free or manumitted blacks and several urban professionals, among them, many tailors. As the historian Boris Fausto said, the conspiracy (name that means conspiracy) was related to the general framework of these nativist rebellions, but, specifically, it also has a lot to do with the terrible conditions of survival in the city of Salvador:
“[...] The shortage of foodstuffs and the famine gave rise to several riots in the city, between 1797 and 1798. For example, the slaves who transported large amounts of meat destined for the general-commander of Salvador were attacked by the hungry crowd and their burden was divided between the attackers and the black women who sold delicacies on the street.” [1]
This description by Boris Fausto makes evident the situation of extreme deprivation that plagued Bahia at the time. The conspirators, inspired by Enlightenment ideas and the struggle for rights undertaken by French revolutionaries, sought to raise the banner of the proclamation of the Republic, the end of the slavery system, the adoption of free trade, among other agendas. Despite having an organization of ideas with support, the conspiracy did not culminate in any important political act, as their leaders were soon arrested by the government of Bahia, tried and convicted.
Four of these leaders were hanged and quartered, while others were banned or remained in prison. Just as Tiradentes, in Inconfidência Mineira, served as an example when he was hanged and quartered, the four conspirators from Bahia also had the same fateful fate. The crime of treason was considered one of the most serious by the Portuguese Crown and by the General Government of Brazil, subordinate to it.
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NOTES :
[1] Faust, Boris. History of Brazil . São Paulo:Publisher of the University of São Paulo, 2013. p. 103
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