It was not until the 1870’s, in the waning years of the Empire, that São Paulo’s rise to unquestioned pre-eminence in Brazil caused it to question seriously the existing framework of government. But in the span of nearly four centuries between 1500 and 1870, there were instances of friction between São Paulo and the central government which provided at least a tradition of Paulista dissatisfaction with its allegedly subordinate position in the Brazilian nation. Most of the early rebellious tendencies of São Paulo were no different from those of the other regions of Brazil, thus not warranting particular attention. Prior to 1870, however, there were two occasions involving Paulista actions against the central government which merit consideration for special reasons. They were peculiar to São Paulo, differentiating it from the other regions, and they were of significance in foreshadowing the later pattern of Paulista tendencies toward secession.