Apropriação territorial e o papel das elites locais no processo de modernização na Região Sul Catarinense no século XIX

Abstract

The thesis sought to understand the process of occupation and territorial appropriation of the southern region of Santa Catarina throughout the 19th century, especially in its second half, taking into account the context that pointed to the idea of progress and civilization, in addition to the need to integration of the region into the national economy. To better clarify this process, the research observed aspects such as: the configuration and conformation of the geographical space; their past occupations, with emphasis on native peoples; the occupation of the coastal strip with the formation and development of the villages of Laguna, Tubarão and Araranguá; the formation of an oligarchic political and economic elite composed of Portuguese-Brazilians based in the villages, mainly Laguna and Tubarão; and modernizing projects around the process of occupying regional space, such as coal mining, immigration and colonization, as well as communication and transport routes. To this end, we analyzed several documentary collections, especially newspapers, documents from Colônia Grão Pará, safeguarded at the Historical Documentation Center “Plínio Benício” - CEDOHI and the reports that the presidency of the Province sent annually to the Legislative Assembly of Santa Catarina. Studies on the occupation of the southern region of Santa Catarina throughout that century made it possible to perceive the narrative constructions that guided political and economic interests and disputes at both the local and regional levels.