Economic deversity and regional interests: the public policies of the provincial government of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author(s)

Ana Paula Ribeiro Freitas

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2009-12-04

Examining board members

Miriam Dolhnikoff; Monica Duarte Dantas; Jonas Marçal de Queiroz

• Advisor: Miriam Dolhnikoff

Abstract

The objective of the present research is to analyze the public politics of the administrators of Minas Gerais, between 1870 and 1889. The provincial government mining consisted of two instances of power: the Provincial Legislative Assembly and the Presidency of the Province. By analyzing the reports and speeches of the presidents of the province of Minas Gerais, Annals of the provincial legislature of Minas Gerais and the revenue laws of the province of Minas, try to understand the relationship between the two locus of power at provincial level - Legislative Assembly and President of the Province - the definition of public policy for the province of Minas Gerais, meet the demands of political groups and regional economic. I argue that the interests of the sectors related to coffee in the forest zone were privileged in mining development proposals made and approved by the provincial deputies, who had the final say in drawing up the budget of the province, consigning investments to be made and taxes to be charged. The budgets and the discussions among the members can identify which sectors were favored by investment and they paid the bill through taxes. In historiographical terms, we corroborate a trend of recent productions, which conceive the existence of negotiations between the ruling elites of the Imperial Government and the regional elites and not a subordination of these for those. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/05335-7 - Economic policy in Minas Gerais provincial government and development of agriculture (1871-1889)
• Grantee: Ana Paula Ribeiro Freitas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master