Ecos do nacionalismo italiano: os sentidos da italianidade em Juiz de Fora (1878 1922)

Abstract

This PhD thesis is a study about the manifestations of the Italian identity among the Italian immigrants who settled in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, between 1872 and 1922. Assuming that the concept of Italianity relates to all bonds or feelings of belonging existing between the Italians and their country of origin, the current research seeks to understand how this specific group of Italians consolidated identificational bonds with the Italian Nation. For this purpose the analyses focused on the importance for the immigrants of the vice consulate, the mutuals and recreational societies, the Italian schools and the local press. It was also observed how the symbols of Italian nationalism were triggered in the typical festivities of the community, for example, the Twentieth of September Feast, funeral celebrations, the Statutes Feast and the St. Roques Feast. Finally, the Italian identity was analyzed around the perspective of interethnic contact. It is believed that the social relations established with other ethnic groups living in Juiz de Fora also contributed to the identification and enhancement of the Italian identity among the immigrants from Italy. The document sources consulted for thiswork are varied and made up of consular correspondence, documents about Italian schools and columns published by local media focused on the Italian community, including criminal prosecutions and tax records involving Italian residents in Juiz de Fora.