ABSTRACT:
In this article, we seek to give visibility to the speeches made in the House of Representatives and in the Senate about the approval of the Free Womb Law. After all, how did the enslaved population face the new situation and what measures were taken to abolish what some considered as the "blackest slavery: ignorance"? To explore this question, we analyze the debates that took place during the drafting, processing and approval of the Law of September 28, 1871, the so-called "Free Womb Law", based on documents from the House of Representatives and the Senate, produced during the administration of João Alfredo Corrêa de Oliveira at the Ministry of the Empire's Businesses (1871-1975). With this investment, we analyze some aspects related to the access to formal or informal schooling of blacks, enslaved, freedmen and ingénues. In order to reflect on the effects of this project, we consulted printed materials circulating at that time, such as Gazeta da Tarde (Evening Gazette), A Instrucção Pública (The Public Instruction), Illustração Brasileira (Brazilian Illustration) and Jornal do Commercio (Trade Newspaper), in which we found important information about the debates and positions of this reform in the legislative apparatus and in public opinion. The mentioned printed materials also functioned as important sources to understand aspects and challenges of the schooling of blacks, slaves and ingenuous in the focused period.
Keywords:
Free Womb Law; João Alfredo Corrêa de Oliveira; Slavery; Ministry of the Empire Business
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Source: Semana Ilustrada (RJ), October 15, 1871, ed. 566, p. 7.Image translation:NOTICE. The IMPERIAL ARTIST INSTITUTE of Rio de Janeiro has published a large commemorative picture of the decree of September 28th, 1871, representing the portraits of H.M. the Emperor, H.H. the Princess Regent and those of the Ministry of March 7th; and in emblems the liberation of slaves, agriculture, commerce, colonization and immigration, the allegorical figures of Gloria and History.The title of the painting is: HONOR AND GLORY TO THE MINISTER OF MARCH 7, 1771, because it was he who laid the cornerstone of the great building of the abolition of the servile element, a fact that in the whole world will produce the most brilliant impression and whose results will reflect on Brazil as, until now, only the declaration of Independence in the fields of Ypiranga did, placing it alongside the most civilized nations of the world.For sale at the IMPERIAL INSTITUTO ARTISTICO, Primeiro de Março Street (March 1st) (formerly Right) n. 21.Price per painting 10$000.
Source: Biblioteca digital luso-brasileira (Luso-Brazilian digital library). Available at: http://objdigital.bn.br/acervo_digital/div_iconografia/icon1208241/icon1208241.jpg. Accessed on: 01 jan. 2021.
Source: Brazilian Mint Available at: http://www.moedasdobrasil.com.br/moedas/catalogo.asp?s=105&xm=462 Accessed on: 01 Jan. 2021.
Source: Report of the Minister of the Empire 1886, p. 58-59.Image Translation:HOME FOR DESTITUTE BOYSThe number of 300 asylums set by Law 3314 of October 16, 1886 is complete.In addition to the workshops of cobbler, bookbinder, joiner, woodworker, lathe operator, shoemaker, tailor and carpenter, there is also a workshop for the tariff.From May of last year to March 16 last, the revenue of the workshops was 11:638$444, distributed like this:Tinsmith workshop --- 5:186$620Bookbinder's workshop --- 2:943$024Cabinetmaker's workshop, polisher and stuffer --- 2:181$000Turnery workshop --- 601$600Tariff workshop --- 493$900Shoemaker's workshop --- 183$800Carpenter's workshop --- 48$300Total: 11:638$444The tailor's workshop manufactures clothing, and the shoemaker's workshop makes shoes for the asylums.All these workshops have been established little by little, applying the acquisition of machineries, as well as of raw material, the product of the works that are executed in them.Once they receive the machineries that will soon arrive from Europe, they will all be able to satisfy any order.For having completed the age of 21 years, 16 students were discharged from the Asylum, according to the Regulation, and left there knowing a trade, reading and writing, and also knowing the general notions of geography and national history, geometry and elementary algebra and drawing: 12 of them learned instrumental music. The Asylum thus enables those who come to it without the means to receive a moral and professional education to become useful citizens.
Source: Gazeta da Tarde (Evening Gazette). April 17, 1883, ed. 86, p. 1.Image Translation:ABOLITIONIST SCHOOLSLast Saturday we visited the free night school maintained by the Freedmen's Club of Nictheroy.We were welcomed by its director, our friend João Clapp, and by the students.We walked through the whole establishment and admired the extraordinary cleanliness and good order that is observed there.The students gave us brilliant proofs of their progress, which shows how well those intelligences have been directed by the worthy teachers, Mr. Pinho, Mr. Rosa and Mr. Clapp.
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