THE UNITED STATES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL
J. FRED RIPPY
University of Chicago
The relations of the United States and Brazil have been
more harmonious, perhaps, than those of any other two
American states. The United States was the first country
to recognize the independence of Brazil, and the latter was
the first of the South American states to signify its ap-
proval of and adhesion to the Monroe Doctrine. The friend-
ship thus begun has continued with little interruption until
the present day. At first thought, this would seem all the
more remarkable since during the most of this long period
Brazil was ruled by a monarchy. In reality, however, the
character of the Brazilian monarchs, particularly that of
Dom Pedro II., and the order and stability which the mon-
archical form of government gave Brazil have tended to
promote rather than hinder the development of friendly
intercourse between these two important American states.
A survey of public opinion in the United States regarding
Dom Pedro II. will reveal remarkable uniformity of admi-
ration and praise.
The last of the Brazilian emperors had scarcely attained his thirty-first year when he was made honorary member of the New York Historical Society, while an address given before that society somewhat later contained the assertion that “Dom Pedro, by his character and his taste, application, and acquisitions in literature and science, ascends from his mere fortuitous position as an Emperor, and takes his place
in the world as a man.”[1] The great scientist Agassiz seems
—1—
- ↑ D. P. Kidder and J. C. Fletcher, Brazil and the Brazilians (Phila-
delphia, 1857), Chap. XIII.
