Following the earthquake, Joseph I gave his Prime Minister even more power, and Sebastião de Melo became a powerful, progressive dictator. As his power grew, his enemies increased in number, and bitter disputes with the high nobility became frequent. In 1758 Joseph I was wounded in an attempted assassination. The Távora family and the Duke of Aveiro were implicated and executed after a quick trial. The Jesuits were expelled from the country and their assets confiscated by the crown. Sebastião de Melo prosecuted every person involved, even women and children. This was the final stroke that broke the power of the aristocracy. Joseph I made his loyal minister Count of Oeiras in 1759. 

Following the Távora affair, the new Count of Oeiras knew no opposition. Made "Marquis of Pombal" in 1770, he effectively ruled Portugal until Joseph I's death in 1779. However, historians also argue that Pombal’s "enlightenment," while far-reaching, was primarily a mechanism for enhancing autocracy at the expense of individual liberty and especially an apparatus for crushing opposition, suppressing criticism, and furthering colonial economic exploitation as well as intensifying book censorship and consolidating personal control and profit. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Which person was Prime Minister under Joseph 1?
2. What person was Prime Minister under Joseph 1?
3. 
Q2:
1. When was de Melo accorded more power?
2. After what event did de Melo acquire more power?
3. 
Q3:
1. What did de Melo do with his power?
2. How did de Melo use his power?
3. 
Q4:
1. Did de Melo get along with the nobles?
2. Were the nobles and de Melo getting along?
3. 
Q5:
1. Which people was blamed for trying to assassinate Joseph?
2. What people was blamed for trying to assassinate Joseph?
3. 
Q6:
1. What happened to the people who tried to assassinate Joseph?
2. 
3. 
Q7:
1. What was the role of de Melo?
2. What did de Melo do to every person implicated?
3. 
Q8:
1. What title did de Melo receive after executing people?
2. What name was de Melo given after the executions?
3. 
Q9:
1. How long did de Melo rule Portugal for?
2. For what amount of time did de Melo rule Portugal?
3. 
Q10:
1. Did de Melo prone individual liberty?
2. Was de Melo favorable to individual liberty?
3. 
Q11:
1. Were dissenters tolerated by de Melo?
2. Did de Melo cope well with dissenters?
3. 
Q12:
1. What year did Joseph 1 die?
2. At what date did Joseph 1 die?
3. 
