This is a visual explainer based on the Wikipedia article on the Eusébio de Queirós Law. View the official law text here. (opens in new tab)

The Eusébio de Queirós Act

A pivotal moment in Brazilian history: the law that formally abolished the international slave trade, reshaping the nation's future.

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The Eusébio de Queirós Law

Official Decree

The Eusébio de Queirós Law, officially designated as Law No. 581, was enacted on 4 September 1850. Its primary objective was to suppress the international slave trade within the Empire of Brazil.[1]

Legislative Action

This landmark legislation was passed by the General Assembly of the Empire of Brazil, signifying a crucial step towards ending the forced importation of enslaved individuals into the country.[1]

Named in Honor

The law is named after Eusébio de Queirós Coutinho Matoso da Câmara, who served as the Brazilian Minister of Justice from 1848 to 1852. His role was instrumental in championing and enacting this legislation.[1]

Core Mandate

The law established measures specifically designed to repress the African trafficking of enslaved people within the Empire.[1]

Historical Context

Preceding Efforts

The 1850 law was not the first attempt to curb the slave trade. A prior law was enacted on 7 November 1831, but it remained largely unenforced, failing to halt the continuous flow of enslaved individuals into Brazil.[2]

Legislative Precedent

The Eusébio de Queirós Law also drew upon earlier legislative proposals, including an anti-slave trade bill introduced in 1837 by Felisberto Caldeira Brant. This bill, though not enacted at the time, laid groundwork for the eventual passage of Law No. 581.[2]

Imperial Endorsement

The law was enacted under the reign of Emperor Pedro II, who ultimately sanctioned the legislation. This marked a significant policy shift for the Empire.[1]

Territorial Scope

This law was enacted and applied throughout the territorial extent of the Empire of Brazil.[1]

External Pressures

British Intervention

The British Empire exerted considerable pressure on Brazil to end the international slave trade. This pressure intensified with the enactment of the Aberdeen Act in 1845, which authorized British naval forces to seize Brazilian slave ships suspected of engaging in the trade.[1]

Anticipatory Imports

The threat of effective enforcement by the British led to a surge in slave imports into Brazil during the years 1847–1849. Many sought to maximize the number of enslaved people brought into the country before the trade could be definitively halted.[1]

The Scale of the Trade

Vast Human Cargo

Over approximately three centuries (1525–1851), Brazil imported an estimated 3.6 to 5 million enslaved Africans. This made Brazil the largest destination for enslaved people in the Americas.[1]

Regional Concentration

Rio de Janeiro, as a major port and economic center, bore a significant burden of this trade. At one point, slaves constituted 38.3% of its population, numbering around 80,000 individuals.[1]

Immediate Aftermath & Legacy

Continued Slavery

While the Eusébio de Queirós Law effectively ended the international slave trade, it did not abolish slavery itself. Brazil remained the last country in the Western world to abolish slavery, which finally occurred in 1888 with the Lei Áurea.[1]

  • Saraiva-Cotegipe Law (1871): Declared children born to enslaved mothers free, though they remained under the control of the slave owner until age 21.
  • Lei Áurea (Golden Law, 1888): Abolished slavery entirely in Brazil.

Legal Framework

The law established a crucial legal precedent, marking the beginning of the end for the institution of slavery in Brazil. It fundamentally altered the economic and social landscape of the nation.[1]

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Eusébio de Queirós Law Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and its cited sources, and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not legal advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional legal consultation or advice. Always consult with qualified legal professionals for specific matters related to historical legislation or its implications.

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