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Colombia Emigration and Immigration (view source)
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=== African Slavery === | === African Slavery === | ||
Cartagena was also the main trade center for slavery, beginning in the very year it was founded (in 1533) although slaves were first brought in to Colombia in 1504. Between the 16th and first half of the 19th century, the slave trade flourished. Cartagena received more than 60% of the traffic destined for the Virreinato Peruano. Still, the relatively slow economic growth and development in Colombia may have contributed to overall less harsh and exploitative forms of slavery in many parts of Colombia than in the French and English sugar islands. For example, masters who treated their slaves cruelly were liable for punishment. In Colombia, a slave was able and allowed to testify in court on matters of maltreatment and other legalities, and often did so. In fact, the first recorded case of manumission in the Americas, occurred in 1757 in Colombia. However, the relative mildness of Colombian slavery was probably guided as much by pragmatic factors as ideological ones. In many areas, slaves constituted a substantial part of the total population, even outnumbering their masters, which prompted slave owners to treat slaves humanely to prevent revolt. Furthermore, the unpopulated hinterlands provided slaves with a fairly accessible escape route, which slave owners obviously wanted to prevent at all cost. In 1821 a free-birth law was enacted, and in 1852 all slaves were | Cartagena was also the main trade center for slavery, beginning in the very year it was founded (in 1533) although slaves were first brought in to Colombia in 1504. Between the 16th and first half of the 19th century, the slave trade flourished. Cartagena received more than 60% of the traffic destined for the Virreinato Peruano. Still, the relatively slow economic growth and development in Colombia may have contributed to overall less harsh and exploitative forms of slavery in many parts of Colombia than in the French and English sugar islands. For example, masters who treated their slaves cruelly were liable for punishment. In Colombia, a slave was able and allowed to testify in court on matters of maltreatment and other legalities, and often did so. In fact, the first recorded case of manumission in the Americas, occurred in 1757 in Colombia. However, the relative mildness of Colombian slavery was probably guided as much by pragmatic factors as ideological ones. In many areas, slaves constituted a substantial part of the total population, even outnumbering their masters, which prompted slave owners to treat slaves humanely to prevent revolt. Furthermore, the unpopulated hinterlands provided slaves with a fairly accessible escape route, which slave owners obviously wanted to prevent at all cost. In 1821 a free-birth law was enacted, and in 1852 all slaves were emancipated. Thousands of documents related to the history of the slave trade in Latin America are held by the National Archives of Colombia and Cuba and are available online through their websites. This is the link to the Colombian site: [http://negrosyesclavos.archivogeneral.gov.co/portal/apps/php/indexes.kwe negrosyesclavos.archivogeneral.gov.co/portal/apps/php/indexes.kwe]. Another interesting resource for historical perspective is "Slavery and Salvation in Colonial Cartagena de Indias" by Margaret M. Olsen which examines the Jesuit priest Alonso de Sandoval's important 1627 missionary history--the only existing published document that deals with Africans in the Americas at such an early date.<br> | ||
Today, 10.6% of the population identify as Afro-Colombians and are of mixed-race descent known as either mulattos (European and African) or zambos (African and Amerindian) or often all three.<br> | Today, 10.6% of the population identify as Afro-Colombians and are of mixed-race descent known as either mulattos (European and African) or zambos (African and Amerindian) or often all three.<br> | ||
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Germans began immigrating in the later half of the 19th century, and also in the 20th century. Many arrived in Colombia via Venezuela, where German settlements already existed. They traditionally settled as farmers or professional workers in the states of Boyacá and Santander, but also in Cali, Bogotá, and Barranquilla. One famous German immigrant of the 19th century was German-Jewish entrepreneur Leo Siegfried Kopp who founded the brewery, Bavaria. Other German groups arrived in Colombia later; after World War I (many opticians and other professional businesses in Bogotá were founded by German immigrants in the 1910s), and after World War II, (some of them Nazis or on the black list). See "Distant and Distinct: German Immigrants in Colombia" by Enrique Biermann. | Germans began immigrating in the later half of the 19th century, and also in the 20th century. Many arrived in Colombia via Venezuela, where German settlements already existed. They traditionally settled as farmers or professional workers in the states of Boyacá and Santander, but also in Cali, Bogotá, and Barranquilla. One famous German immigrant of the 19th century was German-Jewish entrepreneur Leo Siegfried Kopp who founded the brewery, Bavaria. Other German groups arrived in Colombia later; after World War I (many opticians and other professional businesses in Bogotá were founded by German immigrants in the 1910s), and after World War II, (some of them Nazis or on the black list). See "Distant and Distinct: German Immigrants in Colombia" by Enrique Biermann. | ||
In the 1920's, Colombia's government sought workers from Japan. This initiative was due to the proposal that the Agricultural Society of Colombia sent to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Agriculture and Commerce, calling the attention of the Government to agricultural labor shortages due to the increase of workers in the railways. | In the 1920's, Colombia's government sought workers from Japan. This initiative was due to the proposal that the Agricultural Society of Colombia sent to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Agriculture and Commerce, calling the attention of the Government to agricultural labor shortages due to the increase of workers in the railways. Few families did immigrate to the Cauca Valley region, but after the bombing of Pearl Harbor the heads of households were arrested and taken to Hotel Sabaneta in Fusagasugá . The hotel was converted into an internment camp for Germans, Japanese and Italians until the WWII ended in Europe and Asia.<br> | ||
About 3,000 North Americans arrived in Barranquilla during the late 19th century. By 1958, American immigrants comprised 10% of all immigrants living in Colombia. There are now between 30,000-40,000 United States citizens living in Colombia. Many of whom are Colombians emigrants to the United States who chose to return to Colombia. | About 3,000 North Americans arrived in Barranquilla during the late 19th century. By 1958, American immigrants comprised 10% of all immigrants living in Colombia. There are now between 30,000-40,000 United States citizens living in Colombia. Many of whom are Colombians emigrants to the United States who chose to return to Colombia. | ||