Brazil’s Road to Independence
Every September 7, Brazil celebrates Independence Day. The date marks an announcement made in 1822, but Brazil did not become fully independent in a single afternoon. The break from Portugal grew out of years of change, and fighting and negotiations continued afterward.
A colony and a royal court
For more than three centuries, much of the land now called Brazil was ruled by Portugal, a country across the Atlantic Ocean. Long before Portuguese colonization began in 1500, many Indigenous peoples lived on this land, with their own languages, communities, and ways of life. During colonial rule, Portuguese settlers took land and resources, and millions of Africans were forcibly brought to Brazil and enslaved.
A major change came in 1808. As French armies threatened Portugal, the Portuguese royal family moved its court to Rio de Janeiro. The court brought government officials and other members of the royal household with it. Brazil was no longer simply a distant colony governed by a royal court in Europe; the king was now living there.
- colonization:
- The process of taking control of a place and settling people there.
- forcibly:
- By using force rather than allowing a choice.
- tensions:
- Feelings of strain or conflict between people or groups.
- declaration:
- An official or public statement.
- negotiations:
- Discussions aimed at reaching an agreement.
- monarchy:
- A system of government ruled by a king, queen, or emperor.
- abolished:
- Officially ended.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did the Portuguese royal court move to Brazil in 1808?
- 2How did the royal court’s move change Brazil’s relationship with Portugal?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Brazil’s Road to Independence” is a explanatory article reading passage about Brazilian independence, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (488 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.