Lei Áurea

The Lei Áurea (Golden Law) was a law enacted in Brazil on May 13, 1888, that abolished slavery in the country. It was sanctioned by Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil, acting as regent for her father, Emperor Pedro II, who was in Europe at the time. The law consisted of only two articles:

• Article 1: Declares slavery extinct in Brazil.
• Article 2: Revokes all provisions to the contrary.

The Lei Áurea was the culmination of a long abolitionist movement in Brazil, which included advocacy from intellectuals, journalists, politicians, and formerly enslaved people. While the law formally ended slavery, it did not provide any social or economic support for the newly freed people, leaving them largely marginalized and facing continued discrimination. Consequently, the Lei Áurea is often viewed as an incomplete and flawed victory in the fight for racial equality in Brazil, as its impact was limited to legal emancipation without addressing the systemic inequalities created by centuries of slavery.