THE CONTRIBUTION OF PORTUGUESE IMMIGRANTS TO THE ECONOMY OF THE REGION OF RIBEIRÃO PRETO

Abstract

This study focus on the immigrant´s contribution to the economy of the region of Ribeirão Preto with especial emphasis on the Portuguese migrant´s role. It show how theis immigrant group has changed its rural activity as labour force at the coffee agriculture turning to small land, commercial and industrial producers. Several factors were responsible for the transformation on the land tenure structure in this region, among which the crash of the New York in 1929 was the most relevant. The Portuguese migrant´s hard work together with the decline of the economical power of the coffe plantation owners led to their establishement at the agricultural as well as at the industrial and commercial sectors. They turned to be the second most significant immigrant group in number and refering to the their contribution to the region economy. The data sources were the register forms of land property acquirement from the Municipal Archive of Ribeirão Preto and the forms each one desiring to obtain the permit to develop and industrial or commercial activity had to fulfill at the Commercial and Industrial Association of Ribeirão Preto.