Policy and Indigenous Policies in the Age of Enlightenment: Agreements and Resistance Between Assimilationist Ideals and the Preservation of Differences

The reforms influenced by the Enlightenment and implemented in Portuguese America through the Pombaline policy had a significant impact on Indigenous peoples, who responded in diverse ways, encountering both constraints and opportunities. While many resisted through acts of escape and rebellion, others sought to take advantage of the legal framework. This chapter explores the limits of Pombal’s indigenous policy, examining it in conjunction with the political actions of Indigenous populations. It uncovers the intricate dynamics of the political landscape involving various social actors, while also highlighting the limitations and contradictions in the policy’s implementation across Portuguese America. Here, the assimilationist discourse coexisted alongside the preservation of differences. The primary focus of this analysis is on the captaincy of Rio de Janeiro, offering a comparative perspective with other captaincies during the period spanning from the mid-eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century.