Francisco Ferreira Corrêa Letter on Emancipation
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Scope and Contents
This document, dated October 17, 1871, is an official letter from Francisco Ferreira Corrêa, then-president of the province of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It responds to the passage of Law No. 2,040 (the “Law of Free Birth”), enacted on September 28, 1871, which granted freedom to children born to enslaved parents and marked a major step toward gradual emancipation in Brazil. In the letter, Corrêa addresses the law’s potential impact on the agricultural economy, emphasizing the need to shift from enslaved to free labor. He calls on the province’s landowners and elite to actively support this transition, warning against indifference and urging cooperation to maintain agricultural productivity. The letter is signed in manuscript in purple ink by Corrêa.
Dates
- Creation: 1871-10-17
Conditions Governing Access
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Conditions Governing Use
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Biographical / Historical
Francisco Ferreira Corrêa served as the president of the Brazilian province of Espírito Santo during a period of significant social and economic transformation. His administration coincided with the enactment of Law No. 2,040, also known as the "Law of the Free Womb," which declared that all children born to enslaved mothers after September 28, 1871, would be considered free. This legislation was one of the earliest legal measures in Brazil's gradual process toward the abolition of slavery, which would culminate in 1888. Corrêa’s leadership reflects the challenges faced by provincial governments as they navigated the shift from an economy reliant on enslaved labor to one dependent on free labor. His appeals to landowners illustrate the Brazilian government's efforts to maintain agricultural productivity during this pivotal transition.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
Portuguese
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The University of Alabama Libraries acquired the Francisco Ferreira Corrêa Letter on Emancipation from Forum and Asher Rare Books in 2025.
Processing Information
Processed by Donovan Balderama, April 2025.
- Title
- Guide to the Francisco Ferreira Corrêa Letter on Emancipation
- Author
- Finding aid created by Donovan Balderama, April 2025.
- Date
- April 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository