I enquired about this on Bad History on a free for all Friday last week, and I'm still curious about this. Im asking this under an alt as my main account has a regrettably stupid and juvenile joke of a username that would probably go against this subs rules. Anyway, onto my question. Wikipedia can be full of nonsense a lot of time on certain articles, and I think I have came across some bad history there the other day, but I am not sure because I know next to nothing about this particular area of history, So i,ll just quote what I came across in the Wikipedia article for The Irish and German Mercenaries revolt in Rio De Janeiro in 1828.
Heres this one bit I am wondering about "Rio de Janeiro's black slaves and the Irish did not get along. Taunts of 'white slaves' when the Irish first landed escalated into individual fights, then large scale brawls, and finally, into murders by roving bands on both sides in the dark streets ". Any record of this Irish on Black race war in Brazil happening?
First of all, i have to apologize for my poor English, i'm an Brazilian Historian (not specialized in this subject) but i can help you to answer that question.
Yeah, this is true. And is also related with Uruguayan Independence. Historian Gilmar de Paiva dos Santos Pozo (Universidade de São Paulo) wrote some staff about the situation of Irish immigrants in Brazil at XIX Century.
I have to start some words about political context in the South American "Cone Sur" at that time. Current Uruguay was known formerly as Cisplatina Province. This region was an strategic point for Portuguese and Spanish ambitions at the region, for being the river mouth of Río de La Plata. Is an slaves trafficking and silver transportation trade region, so both nations tried to impose its supremacy there.
When Buenos Aires obtained independence in 1810 forming a nation called Províncias Unidas de La Plata (Argentina's embryo) they also tried to attach that region for his new territory. Uruguayans as divided between groups who support Independence, fidelity for Spanish Crown or Integration with La Plata.
In an internal political crisis, aggravated by Spanish Crown falling in Americas, Portuguese Empire gained influence at this region (in 1811 for example, 4.000 man came from Rio de Janeiro to repeal an Buenos Aires attack in Montevideo) and in 1820 formally annexed Cisplatina Province.
In 1822, Brazil gained his own independence maintaining Cisplatina as part of his territory. Also, started an competition for supremacy in South American "Cone Sur" against Argentina, culminating in events whereas known in Brazil as "La Plata War" and "Paraguay War". Another armed conflict of that period was the "Cisplatina War" or the "Uruguayan Independence War" against Brazil Empire between 1825-1828.
So, who is Irish Immigrants related with that? Brazil as an new nation with imperialist ambitions in South America with a large territory to defend and desire to expand that. But, as an new and poorly structured nation, Emperor Dom Pedro I. has not suitable resources to advance that plans.
When separatist revolts started in Uruguay, Brazilian Empire, despite having an much more powerful army, found strong difficult to appease the situation. Desperate to maintain his southern province, Dom Pedro I. tried to increase his army with pretty questionable methods.
So, English Military Commander in service for Brazilian Empire William Cotter started a campaign to recruit soldiers from British Territories, and he looked for Ireland. The problem is: British laws prohibit their citizens to serve in another country's army. The solution was made fake promises in Irish territory, offering job in Brazilian farms for poor Irish families.
Estimates point 2.000 Irish nationals docking at Rio de Janeiro in 1827. The contract not clarify that military service for Brazil as an obligation. Farm jobs really existed, but there as an "Army Clause" with that. At that time, Brazil has a large number of slaves and extremely poor free black man. Having immigrated in awful conditions, Irish became one of Rio de Janeiro's marginalized groups, in an comparable sitution with Africans enslaved people or free blacks . Sources related social tension between these groups, and Brazilian press described the Irish as the "White Slaves".
So let's jump to 1828 events, suggestively called "Mercenaries Riot". In general, Irish immigrants resisted and refuse to serve Brazilian Army. Is estimated that less than an quarter of their total are really recruited. At the same time, Germans are recruited in similar conditions, and started a rebellion against Army superiors and the Government in 9 and 10 July. They quickly gained support from the Irish. Situations got completely out of control at the following day. Irish started to plunder and destroy houses and commercial establishments, and attacked a number of slaves and blacks. In response, Rio de Janeiro Governament armed slaves and authorized than to attack any Irish causing something that can be considerate an disturb. At 12 July, riots start to be controlled.
This is an general resume of the events. I don't know if you can read something in Portuguese. Pozo's work is in fact pretty good and exhibits a lot sources about it. Here you have the link for that http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/8/8138/tde-18012011-094749/publico/2010_GilmardePaivadosSantosPozo.pdf
In aftermath, a few number o Irish maintain in Brazil, and most part of then where send back to Ireland.
Sources: POZO, Gilmar; Imigrantes irlandeses no Rio de Janeiro - Cotidiano e Revolta no Primeiro Reinado, Rio de Janeiro, 2010 Avaliable at: http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/8/8138/tde-18012011-094749/publico/2010_GilmardePaivadosSantosPozo.pdf
POZO, Gilmar; Colono sim, soldado não, 2014 Avaliable at: http://www.revistadehistoria.com.br/secao/artigos-revista/colono-sim-soldado-nao
Sources about enslaved-Irsh conflict came from José Pereira da Silva (an Brazilian XIX century writer) and Robert Walsh (and English reverend who lived in Brazil between 1828-29). According both relates, tension became before the Riots start. da Silva points that, after refusing to serve, Irish became really marginalized and start "live in the street at huge unfortunate situation" and after getting drunk, involves in fighting with the enslaved blacks (POZO, p. 94). Walsh relates an specific case, when Irish have to "pass by Carioca Square, an fountain where blacks normally take water. When the Irish came an black insurrection begun at the street" (POZO, p.94). There's another relates talking about enslaved peoples complying orders to sent off Irish from certain establishments, and Irish attacking fiercely black peoples at the streets (p.96-97). For the riots, sources are Rio de Janeiro's periodics. There's a lot of description about that, but, basically, population came in to their homes terrified with the events, and slaves took the front for confront then. There's no assurance about who equipped enslaved and blacks with fire guns, but is probable that came from the Army or another oficcial instance (POZO, 146-150). The measure provoked controversial reactions in white elite. Some periodic defended the measure, arguing that blacks defended the nation. Another emphasize the fact that black and enslaved people attacked, and killed, white peoples with guns, and this could became an major risk to maintain control of that population (POZO, p. 155-162). Source POZO, Gilmar; Imigrantes irlandeses no Rio de Janeiro - Cotidiano e Revolta no Primeiro Reinado, Rio de Janeiro, 2010 Avaliable at: http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/8/8138/tde-18012011-094749/publico/2010_GilmardePaivadosSantosPozo.pdf