Confederate Exodus

While Americans have been deeply absorbed with the topic of immigration for generations, emigration from the United States has been almost entirely ignored. Following the US Civil War, an estimated 10,000 Confederates left the US South, most of them moving to Brazil, where they became known as Confederados, Portuguese for “Confederates”. These Southerners were the largest organized group of White Americans to ever voluntarily emigrate from the United States.

In Confederate Exodus Alan P. Marcus examines the various factors that motivated this exodus, including the maneuvering of various political leaders, communities, and institutions as well as agro-economic and commercial opportunities in Brazil. Marcus considers Brazilian immigration policies, capitalism, the importance of trade and commerce, and race as salient dimensions. He also provides a new synthesis for interpreting the Confederado story and for understanding the impact of the various stakeholders who encouraged, aided, promoted, financed, and facilitated this broader emigration from the US South.

The book is published by University of Nebraska Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"Impressively researched...offers a fascinating look at a little-known aspect of post-Civil War American emigration." (Journal of America's Military Past)

“Well researched and masterfully presented...adds a major contribution to our knowledge of this significant period in our history.” (Cyrus B. Dawsey, Auburn University)

“In this intriguing historical geography, Marcus illuminates the little-known postbellum migration of American Confederate veterans to Brazil.” (Brian Godfrey, Vassar College)