The Italian immigrant becomes an industrial entrepreneur in Brazil: The social rise through the small industry in the interior of the São Paulo State (1890-1930)

Abstract

The discussion established by the Brazilian academic literature about the Brazilian industrialization process pointed out the importance of the big industries in the city of Sao Paulo and immigrants rich enough to build these industries, keeping silent about the immigrant newly arrived in Brazil without any economic resources, but with some sort of know how. Thus, we change the focus of interest of industrialization to the city of Ribeirao Preto in the Sao Paulo State countryside. The peculiarity of the industry in this city was due to its establishment in a colonial center (Antonio Prado). The industrialization process that occurred in Ribeirao Preto confuses itself with the small industry emerged from the colonial center, this process ensured the social mobility of poor Italian immigrants.