A Assembleia Provincial de Minas Gerais e o tráfico ilegal de escravizados (1839-1845)

Abstract

In the first decades of the 19th century, Minas Gerais had the largest enslaved population in the Empire of Brazil. Economic diversification and the decentration of enslaved ownership help understand this picture. By analyzing the minutes of the sessions held at the Minas Gerais Provincial Assembly and the press, together with academic sources, this paper seeks to 1) briefly present the classical historiographical debate on Minas Gerais economy and society; 2) discuss the connections between the project intended to install an agricultural school in the capital, Ouro Preto, and the return to conservatism; 3) debate the representations sent by deputies to the General Assembly requesting the repeal of the anti-trafficking law of 1831; and 4) argue that the discussions on the abolition of the meia sisa tax intended to cover up smuggling by legalizing the ‘vile trade.’ The representations and legislative maneuvers done to mitigate the impact of the 1931 law reveal the strength of slavery in Minas Gerais.