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Ordem e civilizacao: The modernization of Brazilian naval yards in the nineteenth century

'Ordem e Civilizacao: The Modernization of Brazilian Naval Yards in the Nineteenth Century,' is a socio-economic history of modernization. The revolution in the art of naval warfare changed centuries-old, construction techniques forever as modern warships utilized iron-siding and steam engines after mid-century. This dissertation analyzes the consequences associated with the adaptation of new technologies to nineteenth-century shipbuilding in the state-run naval yards Constructing modern warships forced the state to educate lower-class youths who subsequently built and maintained them. Established throughout the empire, various schools taught sailors, gunners, artisans, and mechanics their trade. Naval yard workers and sailors who obtained a vocational education eventually forced the imperial government to improve their social status in the navy or lose them to private industry. After mid-century, the state reformed the naval penal code, lessening the number of offenses that received corporal punishment. By 1857, mechanics received direct commissions after ten years of service, and by 1872, the imperial government set up a retirement and disability pension for most of its 4,000 naval yard workers In Brazil's slave-based society, the 'place' for a working class, apart from slave labor, always had been ill-defined. Prior to improving the lot of the working class, the imperial government attempted to define their separate status by differentiating slave labor from free labor and unskilled from skilled labor. After this attempt failed, the imperial government initially relied upon foreign workers, but soon realized that it could not afford their high salary demands. Consequently, the imperial government sought to educate underprivileged youths, turning them into a more productive working class that benefitted the state as well as themselves. The naval yards offer the best example of the Brazilian Empire's concept of 'order and civilization' as education brought discipline, respectability, and limited social mobility to the Brazilian lower classes / acase@tulane.edu

  1. tulane:26156
Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_26156
Date January 1997
ContributorsWarren, Michael A (Author), MacLachlan, Colin M (Thesis advisor)
PublisherTulane University
Source SetsTulane University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
RightsAccess requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law

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