MINAS GERAIS BETWEEN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INTEGRATION IN THE FIRST REPUBLIC:

an analysis through the Messages of State Presidents

Abstract

Several researches were made about different historical moments of the current state of Minas Gerais. One of the most recurrent themes refers to the internal integration of the province/state, raised by investigations about the difficulties of establishing more dynamic links between different mining regions until the 20th century. This article, in a first approach, based on Messages from the Presidents of the State of Minas Gerais, follows some of the economic integration projects between the different regions of Minas Gerais and between Minas Gerais and other states during the First Republic. As the analysis indicates, there was a certain integration between the different regions of Minas Gerais and between Minas Gerais and the national and international markets already in the late 19th century, the beginning of the First Brazilian Republic. However, it was still based on a rhythm and on technologies that did not satisfy the aspirations of local politicians, who were fascinated by the railroad era.