In 1820, a political revolution erupted in Portugal which had a ripple effect across the world interrupting trade between the U.S. and South American colonies. One such area particularly hit hard was New England Rum industry which had profited for 200 years on a triangular trade with the Caribbean and Europe. The most well-known triangular trade is the transatlantic slave trade that started in the late 16th century carrying slaves, cash crops and manufactured goods between West Africa, the new world and the European powers. It was the triangular trade of sugar or molasses, which by the 18th century, had helped New England had become one of the leading rum producers in the world. The original New England rum was made from moll asses imported from areas such as British colonies such as Barbados and Jamaica, as well as Portuguese colonies like Brazil. In the 1800's Great Britain started to crack down on the slave trade, and the Caribbean sources of Molasses were becoming less and less dependable. The New England Rum industry was struggling and were thus hit hard when United States trade was further disrupted by the events surrounding the Portuguese political revolution in 1820. Prior to the revolution the Portuguese royal family had taken refuge in Brazil, but now were returning to Portugal. In James Monroe's State of the Union address of 1821, he wrote to Congress that "The diplomatic intercourse between the United States and the Portuguese dominions, interrupted by this important event, has not yet been resumed". Monroe remained hopeful, that it would return "at an early day", but no promises were made.
"The Government of His Most Faithful Majesty since the termination of the last session of Congress has been removed from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon, where a revolution similar to that which had occurred in the neighboring Kingdom of Spain had in like manner been sanctioned by the accepted and pledged faith of the reigning monarch. The diplomatic intercourse between the United States and the Portuguese dominions, interrupted by this important event, has not yet been resumed, but the change of internal administration having already materially affected the commercial intercourse of the United States with the Portuguese dominions, the renewal of the public missions between the two countries appears to be desirable at an early day."
Liberal Revolution of 1820
During the Peninsular War when Napoleon's forces invaded Portugal, the Portuguese royal family, also known as the Portuguese Court was transferred to the Portuguese colony of Brazil where they remained until 1821. They first arrived in Salvador, Brazil in January of 1808, but soon settled in Rio De Janeiro on March 7, 1808. By 1815, Prince John VI who had led the court out of Portugal, established the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves and was made King with a ceremony of Acclamation in 1818. The court's presence was credited with providing the stability and prosperity that allowed for Brazil to declare it's Independence from Portugal without the violence and instability characterized by other revolutions. Meanwhile, in Portugal, a liberal revolution was brewing. The revolution started in Oporto and quickly spread without any resistance to other cities and towns of Portugal. By time, the revolution hit Lisbon, the revolutionaries demanded the immediate return of he royal court back to Portugal.Upon the return of the Portuguese Court, the revolutionaries demanded that a constitutional monarchy be set up in Portugal, and that Brazil would once again revert to the status of colony. On September 29, 1821, Portugal ordered that all government institutions in Rio de Janeiro be dismantled and control returned back to Lisbon. On October 18, a military governor was established and King John was ordered to return home. King John returned, but his oldest son Pedro remained and became regent of the Kingdom of Brazil. Pedro was only 9 years old when his family fled to Portugal, and was raised in Rio de Janeiro, resulting in an allegiance to the independence of Brazil. About one year later, several Brazilian deputies who had been ordered back to Lisbon fled Portugal and went back to Brazil. Brazil had enjoyed too much freedom since the Portuguese Court first set foot in Brazil in 1808, there was no turning back. Against the demands of the revolutionaries, Pedro was able to head off any attempt of the Portuguese retaking Brazil. On Septemer 7, 1822 Brazil won it's independence and Pedro was crowned it's Emperor on December 1. 3 years later, Portugal recognized Brazil's sovereignty. It was the transition of King John returning to Portugal that disrupted diplomatic intercourse that President Monroe seems to be referring to in his address.
In 1824, President Monroe re-visited this situation, stating that the papers related to the "extraordinary changes" to Spain and Portugal would be handed over to Congress. Monroe also gave a quick summary of the revolution that took place in Brazil.
"The great and extraordinary changes which have happened in the Governments of Spain and Portugal within the last two years, without seriously affecting the friendly relations which under all of them have been maintained with those powers by the United States, have been obstacles to the adjustment of the particular subjects of discussion which have arisen with each. A resolution of the Senate adopted at their last session called for information as to the effect produced upon our relations with Spain by the recognition on the part of the United States of the independent South American Governments. The papers containing that information are now communicated to Congress.
A charge' d'affaires has been received from the independent Government of Brazil. That country, heretofore a colonial possession of Portugal, had some years since been proclaimed by the Sovereign of Portugal himself an independent Kingdom. Since his return to Lisbon a revolution in Brazil has established a new Government there with an imperial title, at the head of which is placed a prince, in whom the regency had been vested by the King at the time of his departure. There is reason to expect that by amicable negotiation the independence of Brazil will ere long be recognized by Portugal herself."
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29463
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29466
Brazil: Empire and Republic, 1822-1930 by Leslie Bethell (1985) pgs 25-32
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_the_Portuguese_Court_to_Brazil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Revolution_of_1820
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sugar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_molasses_trade
http://www.ellenjaye.com/hist_rum.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropenmuseum_Royal_Tropical_Institute_Objectnumber_3581-33h_Ingekleurde_litho_voorstellende_de_oo.jpg
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