NATIVISM IN PORTUGUESE AMERICA: MARCELINO PEREIRA CLETO AND HIS ESSAY ABOUT THE CAPTAINCY OF SÃO PAULO

Abstract

The studies about the history of São Paulo have increased in recent years and one of the focus of research has been the members of the literate culture. Therefore, the historical memories of the 18th century are a big support of these historical works. One of these memories was used for this paper, an essay about the captaincy of São Paulo and its decay, by Marcelino Pereira Cleto. This research suggests that there are traits considered nativist in the work of Cleto; ideas and suggestions of the author to value the local economy of the colony, indicating the political privileges of the Captaincy of São Paulo and the interests of the Portuguese Crown. Therefore, the manuscript will be the basis of our research, which will be concerned about enumerating the passages that are considered evidence of a nativist thought, and will investigate the possible influences and motivations of Pereira Cleto for this bias in his manuscript.