O cotton cycle in Brazil represents one of the country's economic cycles, which took place during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Cotton Cycle Summary
One of the factors that propelled the cultivation of cotton in the country was the English Industrial Revolution, which increasingly demanded raw material for the manufacture of textile industry products.
Using slave labor and cultivated on large estates (large tracts of land), cotton was largely exploited in the north of the country, especially in the state of Maranhão. They were also cultivated in other parts of the country: Ceará, Bahia, Pará, Pernambuco, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, etc.
In addition to being largely destined for the foreign market, cotton was used in the slaves' clothing. Cotton fibers were already used by the Indians in the production of nets.
With the decline of mining in the country, the colonizers began to face problems with the crisis. And, so that it would not affect the European economy, they began to cultivate various products in the country: cotton, tobacco, sugar, rice, cocoa, coffee, among others. All of them were cultivated essentially to supply the needs of the external market.
Cotton (also called white gold) has gained special attention not only with the Industrial Revolution, but above all for the Independence of Treze Colônias, which helped in sending the product to England.
The United States was the market leader for the product. Thus, when the United States acquired Independence (1776) from England, these relations were terminated.
This moment, also called the “Agricultural Renaissance” marks the beginning of the industrialization process in Brazil, which would later be consolidated with the coffee culture.
It is worth remembering that during the coffee cycle it did not stop being produced in the country, however, it is no longer the main economic activity in the colony. Currently, Brazil is one of the largest cotton producers in the world.
Learn more about the process of Industrialization in Brazil.
Main features
In summary, the main characteristics of this period of cotton cultivation are:
- Use of slave labor
- geared to the foreign market
- Farming on large estates
- Monoculture (production of a product)
Did you know?
Cotton growing is called cotton growing.
Also learn about other economic cycles in Brazil:
- Brazil's Economic Cycles
- Brazil Wood Cycle
- Sugarcane Cycle
- Gold Cycle
- Coffee Cycle
- Rubber Cycle
