Year

1823

2 sourced events from this year.

Events

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1823

Politics 19th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Bahia Achieves Independence from Portugal

Following Brazil’s declaration of independence in September 1822, Portuguese troops remained entrenched in Salvador, the capital of Bahia province. Local Brazilian forces, supported by reinforcements from other provinces and a naval blockade led by Admiral Thomas Cochrane, engaged in prolonged fighting including the Battle of Pirajá. After months of siege and supply shortages, Portuguese commander Inácio Luís Madeira de Melo ordered evacuation on the night of July 1–2, 1823. Brazilian troops entered the city on July 2 to popular acclaim. The event completed the expulsion of Portuguese loyalists from the region.

Event Detail

1823

Politics 19th Century North America

Monroe Doctrine Proclaimed in Annual Message

As newly independent Latin American nations emerged from Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule, U.S. leaders grew concerned about potential European recolonization efforts. On December 2, 1823, President James Monroe delivered his annual message to Congress, articulating what became known as the Monroe Doctrine. Drafted primarily by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, the statement declared U.S. opposition to further European intervention in the Western Hemisphere while pledging American neutrality in European affairs. It responded directly to rumors of a European congress considering intervention in Latin America. The doctrine quickly became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas