Cabanagem

The Cabanagem was a great social upheaval that occurred between the years 1835 and 1840 in Grão-Pará Province, principally characterized by the effective participation of the poorest sections of the population in a movement that sought not only to protest against the government, but also to seize power.

Although generally considered as an event in the Regency period, Pinheiro (2009, p.5) proposed a procedural study of Cabanagem, or “to restore the region’s various resistances and struggles by popular segments that preceded the Cabano movement”, indicating that even before the Independence of Brazil, the Grão-Pará Province witnessed many conflicts involving different segments of society. The Cabanagem would thus be a movement that “gradually emerged from the ongoing struggles that developed from top to bottom in the huge Grão-Para” (PINHEIRO, 2009, p. 7).

The poorest population, made up of Indians, black people and mulattos, lived in simple straw-thatched huts. The so-called Cabanos fought for better living conditions, while the middle class, made up of farmers and traders, longed for greater political and economic participation in the province. Although they belonged to different segments of society and had independent paths, the two parties initially shared the common goal of constructing a government free from Portuguese rule that would meet the needs of the region.

During the Regency period, the imperial government continued to appoint governors linked to the Portuguese elite, which displeased both the poorest people as farmers and local traders. Governors appointed by the empire were deposed by the population or abdicated the position, unable to cope with the local dissatisfaction with the Portuguese presence and domination even after independence

The lack of control over the province in the face of constant social upheavals led the governor appointed by the Central Government, Bernardo Lobo de Souza, to adopt increasingly violent repressive measures against the rebels. Arbitrary arrests, harassment of journalists, deportation and recruitment to the Imperial Army were some of the measures taken in an attempt to disrupt the revolts. Such measures, however, further increased dissatisfaction with the government, which culminated in widespread riots.

The Cabanos were supported by members of the local elite, such as Eduardo Angelim, farming brothers Francisco Pedro and Antonio Vinagre, farmer Clemente Malcher, journalist Vicente Ferreira Lavor and priest Batista Campos. In January 1835, the Cabanos rebelled, took Belém, assassinated Governor Lobo de Souza and appointed Malcher as new governor and Francisco Vinagre as commander of the troops.

The first Cabano government did not last long, however. Clemente Malcher had the support of the ruling elite, and although against Portuguese privileges, he did not agree with the separatist ideals of the more radical Cabanos. Thus, he swore loyalty to the Empire and began to pursue leaders of the movement that fought for independence. In an attempt to suppress separatist movements, Malcher attacked the troops led by Francisco Vinagrer, but was deposed and executed.

Francisco Vinagre then took over as governor, but was not able to resolve ideological differences within the movement. Like his predecessor, Vinagre was also charged with treason for having declared loyalty to the Empire and having helped imperial troops to regain control over Belém.

The Cabanos took refuge in the province’s interior, and managed to reorganize, despite the weakening of the movement with the increasing loss of support from local elites. Led by Eduardo Angelin, the Cabanos retook the capital of the province and proclaimed the Republic.

The lack of a politically and economically-structured government, as well as disputes and internal conflicts, destabilized the revolutionary government, which could not resist the new armed assault sent in April 1836 by the Regent Feijó. Under the command of Brigadier Francisco José de Sousa Soares de Andrea, the central government retook the provincial capital and captured Cabano leader Eduardo Angelin.

The Cabanos decided to leave the capital and, despite the defeat, did not submit to the Empire and returned to the interior, where they tried to reorganize the movement. In 1840, after three years of conflict and violent repression, government troops managed to defeat them.

It is estimated that about forty thousand people died during the Cabanagem conflicts, making it one of the bloodiest revolts of the Regency period.

 

 

 

Recife, 26 May 2014.