"Aj, aj, Je suis blessé!"

• Gustav III after being shot

Brazil had been torn in the liberal storm that took place in 1842-43, something that was hard to hinder even as the conservative government was assembled. The reactionary plantation owners had control over the military, Brazilian bank and now also the parliament. They had done much to rouse the population against the liberals and a wave of conservative reactionaries came as a result. Hostile towards refugees and distrustful of foreign industrialists trying to establish themselves in Brazil. Laws had been passed and policies revoked, the refugees were hanging by a loose threat where they would be arrested for the smallest of demeanour, the foreign industrialists were however more lucky as it was only restricted to expand current businesses under construction (with exception for them to buy or sell their factories to each other).

Many of the landowners saw their monarch, Pedro II, as a hero and held great respect for the man. But they could not see past the fast and radical change the king had brought and how it threatened the social order they held so dearly. It was a storm. And protectionism for the continued rural nature and sale of cash crops was key notes to draw in the sail, “Foreigners cannot improve the Brazilian economy, it must be done from within and from the sweat of our brows. If others toil and labour for no apparent reason they seek only to exploit the capable men and women of our great nation. We must protect the farmers, we must protect the local businesses and we must protect the people from the violent Mexicans who brings unrest to our halls!”

It was with great reluctance that conspirators gathered and pushed parliament. In early spring 1844 the parliament assembled in front of their king to present to him their new constitution limiting the monarch’s power over parliament. The king’s approval was to become a rubber stamp, signed by the prime minister.

Was the king going to accept?