The rubber trade The 1840s brought trade and wealth to the Amazon with the development of the vulcanization process for rubber, leading to a worldwide surge in demand. The best rubber trees in the world grew in the Amazon, and thousands of rubber tappers began working the plantations. When the Amerindians proved to be a difficult labor force, peasants from surrounding areas were brought in. This created ongoing tension between the Indigenous population and the new arrivals, as the Amerindians felt their lands were being invaded in the pursuit of wealth.
The rubber trade The 1840s brought trade and wealth to the Amazon with the development of the vulcanization process for rubber leading to a worldwide surge in demand The best rubber trees in the world grew in the Amazon and thousands of rubber tappers began working the plantations When the Amerindians proved to be a difficult labor force peasants from surrounding areas were brought in This created ongoing tension between the Indigenous population and the new arrivals as the Amerindians felt their lands were being invaded in the pursuit of wealth