Policies and Treaties for the Promotion of Migration and Settlement of Migrants in Barranquilla in the 19th Century

Abstract

This article examines the entrepreneurial activities of migrants involved in the productive life of Barranquilla at the beginning of the 19th century. As Colombia's main port, Barranquilla became a hub for trade, capital, and foreigners who perceived it as a "gateway" for the economic development of their trading houses, banks, and factories. The primary objective is to present successful cases of North American, European, and Latin American businessmen who found opportunities in Barranquilla to expand their capital, and whose economic migration was successful to the extent that they integrated into the dynamics of a Caribbean city—with cultural and social structures different from those of their home countries—where they learned to overcome the adversities of the time. The methodological approach includes a historical review of migratory processes in the port cities of the Colombian Caribbean, focusing specifically on Barranquilla due to the economic expansion it experienced through the activities of migrant bankers, merchants, and entrepreneurs. Among the partial results, a strong receptivity of the Caribbean basin to transatlantic migrations in contemporary times was found, particularly for groups with commercial and business initiatives in territories experiencing significant economic growth.