Brazilian northeastern migration

Northeastern migration or the northeastern exodus refers to a secular migratory process of populations coming from the Northeast region of Brazil to other parts of the country, in particular to the center-south. This migratory movement had and has great relevance in the history of migration in Brazil since the time of the Empire.

Economic stagnation and constant droughts, in contrast to the economic prosperity of other regions in Brazil, were determining factors in the beginning of the northeastern migratory process. In 1879, with the advent of the First Rubber Cycle, the northeasterners migrated to the Amazon region, a fact that is repeated during the World War II, with the Second Rubber Cycle. During the peak of Brazil's industrialization, between the 1950s and 1970s, migration from the Northeast to the Southeast, especially to the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, was intense, making the capitals of these states great poles of attraction for these populations.

After the decline of the industrial growth in the Southeast, at the end of the 1980s, migration from the Northeast to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro decreased considerably. Between the 1980s and 1990s, polynucleated migration became more evident, also registering migrations to the Federal District region and, once again, to the Amazon region.

The strong process of economic development, driven mainly by the industrialization of the 1930-1980 period, especially in São Paulo, due to the accumulation of coffee since the 19th century and the import substitution and protectionist policies, favored the Southeast region of Brazil. In contrast, the Northeast region still maintained old characteristics: backward and poorly diversified agriculture, a stagnant economy, large landowners, concentration of income, and a poorly diversified industry with low productivity. besides the natural phenomenon of constant droughts. The distinct characteristics of these two regions, besides accentuating regional inequalities, formed a propitious scenario for migration from the Northeast, especially to urban areas.

Another factor that contributed to the increase in the northeastern migratory flow in this period was the construction of Brasília, in the Central-West, which attracted large population groups to work on the construction sites of the then new federal capital of Brazil.

In 1877, the Brazilian Northeast was suffering from the consequences of the drought. Many northeasterners, mostly from Ceará, were encouraged to migrate to the Amazon to work in latex extraction. This destination was also popular during the drought of 1915, as Rachel de Queiroz wrote in her novel O Quinze.

The migration to the so-called Terra da Fartura (English: Land of Plenty) was always stimulated with the support of the Northeastern state governments. However, with the Washington Accords signed by Getúlio Vargas in 1943, the migration began to be organized by the Federal Government. The agency responsible for this movement was Special Service of Mobilization of Workers for the Amazon (SEMTA). It is estimated that over 60,000 people migrated to the Amazon region to work as Rubber Soldiers.

The migration from the Northeast to the state of São Paulo can be divided into two intense flows: a rural one, which comprises the decades from 1930 to 1950, and an urban one, which embraces the decade from 1950 to the present day. From the 1930s on, the massive flow of European immigrants to São Paulo decreased. At the same time, the government took on a nationalistic tone and a relocation of people from the Northeast, where there was economic crisis, population surplus and scarcity of resources, to the center-south, where the situation was reversed, began.