Editing Pedro II of Brazil (section)

=== Abolitionism ===
[[File:Pedro Américo - D. Pedro II na abertura da Assembléia Geral.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1|alt=Full length painted portrait of a bearded man wearing a gold crown, mantle and sword and grasping a long scepter|Pedro&nbsp;II at age 46 delivering the [[speech from the throne]] wearing the [[Imperial Regalia of Brazil|Imperial Regalia]], 1872]]
In the 1870s, progress was made in both social and political spheres as segments of society benefited from the reforms and shared in the increasing prosperity.{{sfn|Olivieri|1999|p=37}} Brazil's international reputation for political stability and investment potential greatly improved. The Empire was seen as a modern and progressive nation unequaled, with the exception of the United States, in the Americas.{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=9}} The economy began growing rapidly and immigration flourished. Railroad, shipping and other modernization projects were adopted. With "slavery destined for extinction and other reforms projected, the prospects for 'moral and material advances' seemed vast."{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=240}}

In 1870, few Brazilians opposed slavery and even fewer openly condemned it. Pedro&nbsp;II, who did not own slaves, was one of the few who did oppose slavery.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|pp=130–136, 189}},
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=194}},
* {{harvnb|Olivieri|1999|p=44}}.</ref> Its abolition was a delicate subject. Slaves were used by all classes, from the richest to the poorest.{{sfn|Olivieri|1999|p=43}}{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=130}} Pedro&nbsp;II wanted to end the practice gradually to soften the impact to the national economy.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=161}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=131}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 3|p=29}}.</ref> With no constitutional authority to directly intervene to abolish slavery, the Emperor would need to use all his skills to convince, influence, and gather support among politicians to achieve his goal.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=210}}{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|pp=132–136}} His first open move occurred back in 1850, when he threatened to abdicate unless the General Assembly declared the [[Atlantic slave trade]] illegal.{{sfn|Olivieri|1999|p=44}}{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=166}}

Having dealt with the overseas supply of new slaves, Pedro&nbsp;II turned his attention in the early 1860s to removing the remaining source: enslavement of children born to slaves.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=132}}{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=162}} Legislation was drafted at his initiative, but the conflict with Paraguay delayed discussion of the proposal in the General Assembly.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=132}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=162}},
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=315}}.</ref> Pedro&nbsp;II openly asked for the gradual eradication of slavery in the [[speech from the throne]] of 1867.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=134}} He was heavily criticized, and his move was condemned as "national suicide."<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=315}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=133}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=164}}.</ref> Critics argued "that abolition was his personal desire and not that of the nation."{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=136}} He consciously ignored the growing political damage to his image and to the monarchy in consequence of his support for abolition.{{sfn|Barman|1999|pp=224–225}} Eventually, a bill pushed through by Prime Minister [[José Paranhos]], was enacted as the [[Law of Free Birth]] on 28 September 1871, under which all children born to slave women after that date were considered free born.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=136}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=170}},
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=238}}.</ref>