In August 8, 1845, was enacted on Bill Aberdeen Law by the British Parliament in order to combat the African slave trade.
In direct translation from English, the law gained two names, namely: “slaveTradeSuppressionAct” or “aberdeenAct(Slave Trade Suppression Act or Aberdeen Act).
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A british royal navy he could then intercept slave ships and judge their commanders, in case they were transporting slaves on the South Atlantic route, towards the Americas.
Such a charge was proposed by George Hamilton-Gordon, known for Lord Aberdeen, also UK Foreign Secretary.
The need for the creation of the law arose from the lack of attitude, especially from the Brazilian imperial government, in effectively putting an end to poignant slavery.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the discussion about the end of the slave trade was gaining momentum. England, already in 1807, had begun the process of abolishing slavery in its colonies, while pressing Portugal to do the same.
In 1810, the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance with the United Kingdom marked the first attempt by the British to put an end to the slave trade to Brazil.
Signed by D. João VI, the agreement was signed during the period when the Portuguese royal family moved to the colony.
Later, in the years 1815 and 1817, new treaties were agreed, but without legal compliance by the Portuguese.
As soon as it was proclaimed Independence of Brazil, in September 7, 1822, the pressure on D. Pedro I by the English only increased. So, created the Treaty of 1826, which reinforced Portugal's commitment to ending slavery. Again, Portuguese efforts were minimal.
Based on this agreement, the first Brazilian abolitionist law was approved on November 7, 1831: the Bean Law. The agreement decreed the end of the slave trade in Brazil and every African brought in slave ships from that date onwards would be considered free.
Despite efforts, the law had no effect and ended up earning the nickname of “law for english to see”.
With a considerable increase in slave ships that docked more frequently on the Brazilian coast, slavery experienced its apogee between the years 1831 and 1845. Around 470,000 Africans landed in Brazilian territory.
The practice was supported by public opinion, especially by slaveholders who found profit and cheap labor in slave labor, in addition to complacent authorities.
The British Prime Minister at the time, Robert Peel he was strongly indignant at the Portuguese neglect to end slavery, given that the practice had increased.
In the midst of these dissatisfactions, the Bill Aberdeen Law, forcing the end of the African slave trade activities for the South America.
After the enactment of the Bill Aberdeen Law, began the process of abolition of slavery in brazilian territory.
Afraid of civil conflicts, added to the fact of having to pay compensation to landowners, the Brazilian imperial government chose to sanction some abolitionist laws, the most famous being:
Enacted five years after the Bill Aberdeen Law, on September 4, 1850, the Eusébio de Queiroz Law decreed the end of the slave trade for Brazil.
However, the slave trade and internal trade increased to considerable levels.
It was considered the first attitude of the Brazilian government to abolish slavery in the country, which in fact only happened with the enactment of the Lei Áurea in 1888, signed by Princess Isabel.
Approved on September 28, 1871, the Law of the Free Wombdecreed the freedom of children of slaves born from that year onwards. The dissatisfaction and fear of an imminent rebellion caused dissatisfaction on the part of the conservatives, who did not want to lose manpower without being paid for it.
Thus, some conditions had to be linked to the treaty: if the owner of the slave decided to free him at the age of eight, an amount of 600 thousand réis would be paid to his master; if he chose to enact manumission only at the age of 21, he would not be paid any compensation.
Another imposition of the law was that every slave was enrolled in a national register by his master and those who were not, would be considered free.
From 1880 onwards, abolitionist feelings were inflamed, reaching virtually all social classes. Thus, on September 28, 1885, the Sexagenarian Law or Saraiva Cotegipe Law.
In it, the liberation of slaves over sixty years of age was decreed. However, some impositions were determined, such as: after manumission, the freed slave should serve his master for another period of three years.
Added to this, the manumitted person was not allowed to move from the province, having to establish residence in the place for a period of five years.
Perceived as a weak law and created only to contain the growing abolitionist sentiment, the sexagenarian law was considered outdated and retrograde.
See too: Slavery in Brazil
