The Legal Position of Slaves in Brazil in the 19th Century

What does the Brazilian Constitution of 1824 state about the legal position of slaves?

Based on the provisions from the 1824 Constitution cited in the passage, what can be inferred?

Answer:

The Brazilian Constitution of 1824 stated that it did not apply to slaves, effectively denying them any protection or rights under the law.

In the given passage about slavery, the second paragraph points out a crucial inference that most directly supports the claim that abolitionists in the late nineteenth century backed their position by exposing the inconsistency between the concept of universal human rights and the continuation of slavery. This discrepancy between the ideals of equality and freedom on paper versus the harsh reality of slavery being woven into the fabric of society was a central argument used by abolitionists to advocate for the end of this inhumane practice.

Slavery, as defined in the passage, refers to the condition where one human being is owned by another, treated as property, and devoid of most rights held by free individuals. While there may be divergent views on the exact nature of slavery, historians, anthropologists, economists, and sociologists generally agree that a slave was seen as a form of property, belonging to another person.

In the context of the 1824 Brazilian Constitution, the absence of any mention of slaves or regulations concerning their status highlights the stark contradiction between the nation's constitutional principles of freedom and equality and the harsh reality of slavery prevailing without legal protection for the enslaved individuals.