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Lucia Maria Bastos Pereira das Neves The forgotten in the independence process: a history to be made

Almanack, Guarulhos, n. 25, ef00220, 2020 http://doi.org/10.1590/2236-463325ef00220

their own freedom. They envisioned a new “horizon of expectation”^[1]. Even later, the imperial government sought to reward these men, recommending that their masters give their freedom by means of a fair payment with resources from the Provincial Board of Finance^[2]. Thus, much remains to be discovered behind the shadows of these anonymous faces, although some advances have been made by studies, such as the one already mentioned by João José Reis and Hendrik Kraay^[3].

In the figurative language of journalists and pamphlet writers, another fundamental point came to light in relation to slavery and the Independence process: Brazil as a slave to Portugal. In this case, the idea promoted many times by adherents of the Portuguese cause was the possibility of a revolution in Brazil along the lines of Haiti if its separation from the old metropolis were configured.

On the eve of the election of the district attorneys in April 1822, the unrest was intense, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Several flyers appeared in the city calling “the people to arms to depose the São Paulo ministry”^[4]. It was determined that the police force should check the gatherings of “people who are suspicious and disturbing the peace and public security” that could perform an act against the said elections. This was followed by a series of arrests of Portuguese suspected of links to the movement, as they were disturbing the “peace and tranquility of the inhabitants of this capital”, being obliged to

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1. KOSELLECK, Reinhart. Futuro passado: contribuição à semântica dos tempos históricos. Rio de Janeiro: Contraponto, 2006, p. 305-327.
2. BRASIL. Decisão 113, de 30 de julho de 1823. In: BRASIL. Colecção das decisões do governo do Império do Brazil de 1823. Rio de Janeiro: Imprensa Nacional, 1887, p. 82.
3. REIS, João José. O jogo duro ... Op. Cit.; KRAAY, Hendrik. “Em outra coisa não falavam os pardos, cabras e crioulos”: o “recrutamento” de escravos na guerra da Independência na Bahia. Revista Brasileira de História, São Paulo, v. 22, n. 43, p. 109-126, 2002.
4. MELO, Jeronymo de Avelar Figueira de (org.). A correspondência do Barão de Wenzel de Mareschal. RIHGB, Rio de Janeiro, t. 80, v. 134, p. 10-148, 1920. Ofício 20 abril 1822, p. 58.