A colonização militar no sertão de Amaro Leite: presídio de Santa Cruz, 1854-1864

Abstract

This thesis addresses the theme of the Military Colonization Project. The study of this project, implemented in several Brazilian provinces, including the province of Goiás, from the second half of the 19th century, aims to contribute to the historical knowledge of territorial and human conquest undertaken in Brazilian inland regions where colonization was incomplete or not yet established. The research focuses on the Santa Cruz Prison in the Sertão de Amaro Leite, with a timeframe that covers the years 1854 to 1864. This period encompasses the foundation of the prison until its transfer to the Jurupensen Port, on the banks of the Rio Vermelho, near the City of Goiás. The research aims to examine the Military Colonization Project, contextualizing its political and economic motivations, as well as analyzing its implementation in the province of Goiás, including the strategies and challenges faced. It seeks to investigate the social, political, and economic transformations resulting from the project's implementation in the Sertão de Amaro Leite region, considering its impact on the social structure and regional economy. The understanding of the relationships between the military settlers and the local population, especially the Indigenous peoples, as well as the analysis of the living conditions of the colonial prison's inhabitants, are also highlighted. The research addresses the emerging social dynamics and the strategies of coexistence and resistance adopted by the various groups involved, and the impacts of this territorial occupation policy on the Avá-Canoeiro Indigenous people, in the face of the changes caused by the colonization project. With this investigation, we hope to reflect on the history of Goiás from the perspective of the prison's inhabitants, who were both victims and protagonists of the historical scene. Our research adopted an approach that combines documentary analysis and literature review. The records were examined through quantitative analysis, including statistical data treatment. Simultaneously, we conducted a qualitative analysis aiming to understand the daily life of the colonizing institution through a process of reconstruction, representation, and comparison. The establishment of military prisons in the Sertão de Amaro Leite allowed the imperial government to have greater control over the region, as well as enabling the expansion of the non-Indigenous population in the area. The analysis of the Santa Cruz Prison reveals the multiple facets of the Military Colonization Project. While the imperial government achieved its objectives due to the increase in the non-Indigenous population and the implementation of roads and paths, the residents also experienced benefits such as strengthened security and stimulated trade. However, for the Indigenous peoples, especially the Avá-Canoeiro, the consequences were disastrous, resulting in drastic changes in their way of life and the loss of lives and territories. Through the study of the Santa Cruz Prison, we can understand the complexity and varied impacts of the military colonization project for Brazil. This deeper understanding not only enriches our knowledge of the past but also allows us to reflect on current issues related to colonization, Indigenous rights, and regional development.