The government “doctors” and the urban formation in Campo Grande MT/MS (1905-1940)

Abstract

In the beginning of twentieth century, Northwest of Brazil railway promoted profound changes in the south of Mato Grosso. Politically, the arrival of the rails caused the formation of a new political elite which consisted of representatives of old cattle farmers and so-called “doctors”, professionals who migrated to the site because of political and economic attractive arising with railroad. This article aims to understand how the policies produced by the new bureaucratic and intellectual elite, called “doctors” equated elements of old and new in the modernization and urbanization process of the city of Campo Grande. Such policies have served to accommodate different social agents and to keep under control marginalized groups, so common on the western border.