The Origins of the Pioneer Cotton Mills in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1868-1879: A Reassessment

The Brazilian economy before the First World War has been generallycharacterized as an economy specializing in the production ofprimary goods for the international market—chiefly coffeefor export. The emergence of the first industrial factorieshas been seen as closely connected to the performance of theexport sector. The first cotton mills established in one provinceof Brazil, Minas Gerais, were not connected to the export sector,however. Minas Gerais was different in key respects from otherregions. This article describes the peculiarities of the Mineiroeconomy during the 1870s and investigates the establishmentof the first cotton mills there. It considers the location,size, and financing of the mills, as well as the structure ofownership and relations between partners. The results show thatthe emergence of the textile industry in Minas Gerais was independentfrom the performance of the foreign sector of the Brazilianeconomy.