Description
Book SynopsisThis book argues that liberalism in Portugal was an urban phenomenon involving a very small minority of the people, and points to a variety of reasons for this.
Trade ReviewA very successful synthesis of a long period of Portuguese history, rich in domestic events and constant dramatic changes of fortune, in a country forced to fight for its survival throughout the European power struggle before, during, and after Napoleon. After skimming over the Portuguese eighteenth century period of enlightenment, Dr. Ronald Thomson addresses the country's political struggle with the two liberal projects, the revolutionary French approach and the British liberal parliamentary approach, and the violent struggle between two royal figures and brothers, embodying the romantic desire of political and social change, and the popular resistance to end the long prevailing ‘Ancient Regime.’ The author concludes that the social and economic characteristics in the making of Portuguese society of the time explain the democratic shortfalls in the development of a truly liberal society in Portugal, in contrast to the more advanced economic societal models already existent in Northern Europe. The work is rational and synthetic, written in a very clear style, concentrating on key events, pragmatic and scrupulously fair in its analysis; a welcome, fresh work that will enrich Portuguese historiography, so often ideologically biased. -- Pedro de Avillez, Historian and Publisher
Table of ContentsContents Illustrations and Maps Introduction: The Concession of Évora Monte The Houses of Bragança and Bragança-Saxe-Coburg Part One: The War of the Two Brothers 1.The Peninsular War a.The Portuguese Monarchy and Brazil b.The Peninsular War and Its Aftermath c.The Liberal Ideology 2.João VI a.The Structure of Portuguese Society b.Portugal (and Brazil), 1814-1820 c.Spain’s 1812 Cadiz Constitution d.The 1820 Portuguese Revolution and the Return of João VI e.The Constitution of 1822 f.Dom Pedro and Brazil g.The Counter-Revolution h.The Death of João VI 3.The War of the Two Brothers a.King Pedro IV b.The Constitutional Charter, 1826 c.The Competition for Power: the International Stage d.The Competition for Power: the National Stage\ e.King Miguel I f.Dom Pedro, Duke of Bragança g.The War of the Two Brothers, 1832-1834 Part Two: The Concession of Évora Monte 4.The Concession of Évora Monte 5.1834 a.The Liberals and the Miguelists b.The Government in 1834 c.Social Reforms d.The Liberals and the Church e.Dom Miguel f.The Death of Dom Pedro Part Three: An Unstable Place 6.Maria II a.Maria II and the Portugal of 1834 b.The Frustration of the Radicals, 1834-1838 c.Constitutional Change, 1838 d.The Search for Moderation 1838-1851 e.Miguelism and the Countryside\ f.Regeneration, 1851-1856 g.The Death of Dona Maria II Conclusion: The Failure of Portuguese Liberalism a.Pedro V, 1853-1861 b.Portugal, 1861-1910 c.The Twentieth Century d.The Failure of Liberalism Appendix 1. The Constitutions of Portugal Appendix 2. The Descendants of Dom Miguel Appendix 3. Ranald MacDonell Bibliography Index
