It began with a military insurrection in the city of Porto, in northern Portugal, that quickly and peacefully spread to the rest of the country.

Following the defeat of the French forces in 1814, Portugal experienced a prolonged period of political turmoil, in which many sought greater self-rule for the Portuguese people.

In addition the 1808 Decree of the Opening of Ports to Friendly Nations [pt], practically brought an end to the so-called "colonial pact" (See, Mercantilism), and the Treaties of 1810 [pt], which guaranteed favored status to British products entering Portugal, decimated the commerce of cities like Porto and Lisbon and set off a deep economic crisis which affected its bourgeoisie.

After Napoleon's definite defeat in 1815, a clandestine Supreme Regenerative Council of Portugal and the Algarve was formed in Lisbon by army officers and freemasons, headed by General Gomes Freire de Andrade—Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Portugal and former general under Napoleon until his defeat in 1814—with the objective to end British control of the country and to promote "the salvation and independence" of the pátria.

[3] In 1817 three masons, João de Sá Pereira Soares, Morais Sarmento and José Andrade Corvo, denounced the movement to the authorities, who arrested many suspects, including Freire de Andrade, who was charged with conspiracy against John VI, represented in continental Portugal by a regency, then overseen by the military authority headed by the British officer William Carr Beresford.

A couple of years after the executions, Beresford left for Brazil to ask the King for more resources and powers to suppress the lingering presence of what he called "Jacobinism," which were granted to him.

In 1823, the first revolt against the constitutional order was organized by Prince Miguel and Brigadier João Carlos Saldanha, which managed to close the parliament and to convince King John VI to recall Beresford as an advisor.

Upon seizing the throne, Miguel abolished the constitutional government, triggering six years of civil wars, which pitted him against his brother, Pedro, who abdicated as emperor of Brazil to enforce the succession rights of his daughter Maria II and headed the liberal faction.