Relying on periodicals and political tracts as its main sources, this paper intends to analyze the period of Brazilian Independence as an endeavor to establish new ideas and political practices regarding the relationship between individuals and both society and the State. However, this drive toward an authentically public political sphere was cut short by circumstances, which hindered the constitution of a true notion of citizenship. If citizenship and political participation do take a long time to mature in a really public political sphere, this time is even longer in such countries as Brazil, ridden almost from the start by the exclusion brought about by large landholdings and slavery.
Citizenship; Brazilian independence; Political practices; Political tracts; Press