19th Century Spain: Renaissance, Industry & Social Change
Renaissance
Starting in the first half of the nineteenth century, the Renaissance was characterized by the desire for recovery of the Catalan language. The movement began with the publication of La Pàtria by Bonaventura Carles Aribau and was consolidated with Joaquim Rubió i Ors, who wrote poems that retreat with a book in which the prologue was considered the manifesto of the Renaissance.
T3
1. Changes in Demographics
During the nineteenth century, the population grew rapidly, but less significantly in Spain compared to other European countries due to civil wars, epidemics, and industrial backwardness. A notable phenomenon was the beginning of the process of rural-urban migration, particularly towards the north and south suburbs. The causes were twofold: agriculture could not sustain the growing population, and the industry was unable to absorb all the surplus rural labor. Many people emigrated from Spain, with Catalan emigrants primarily heading to Cuba and Puerto Rico due to the needs of the textile industry. These young, middle-class individuals established businesses in the West Indies, selling Catalan wines and buying cotton for the textile industry. They amassed great fortunes and became known as the Americanos or Indianos.
2. Changes in Agriculture
2.1. The Sale
The shift from an absolutist to a liberal society brought significant changes to the traditional organization of land ownership. Land and associated mayorazgos (entailed estates), which previously could not be sold, became private property. The laws of disentailment allowed the nobility to transform land on which they had no rights into private property. The laws of confiscation allowed the state to expropriate and auction off municipal lands. The sale deepened the structure of land ownership, benefiting the wealthy and major landowners.
Consequences of the Sale:
- 40% of the land did not change hands, with existing landowners, traders, and industrialists purchasing more land to gain prestige.
- It caused instability and insecurity for many farmers who lost traditional rights, leading to distrust of the liberal regime and support for Carlism.
- A positive effect was the expansion of the cultivated area and increased production of cereals, rice, etc.
2.2. Commercial Agriculture
In the second half of the nineteenth century, agriculture shifted towards commercial production. Specialized areas emerged, such as the North focusing on potatoes and corn, Andalusia on wheat, and the Mediterranean region on products like oranges and grapes. Catalonia became a major exporter of wine due to the phylloxera pest that had damaged French vineyards. However, the pest reached Catalonia in 1879, causing a severe crisis.
3. Industry in the Nineteenth Century
The Industrial Revolution was largely unsuccessful in Spain, except in Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Causes:
- Lack of purchasing power in Spanish society
- Protectionist policies of liberal governments in the Basque and Catalan industries, hindering competition
- Limited investments
- Lack of communication networks for transporting products
3.1. Catalan Industry
Catalonia developed a major textile industry, driven by the Catalan bourgeoisie and protectionist policies. The process began in the eighteenth century with the trade of Indian textiles. The profits from this trade fueled traditional industries and provided the capital for industrial development in the nineteenth century. Catalonia became the leading industrial region in Spain, benefiting from surplus rural labor and a spirit of risk-taking and investment. Protectionist policies ensured that Catalan industry supplied the majority of the Spanish market.
3.2. Colonies
Due to the high cost of coal, Catalan industrialists began using hydraulic power from rivers. This led to the creation of industrial colonies, which were self-sufficient worker communities with all necessary services. Protectionism further increased as the Catalan industry constantly demanded industrial machinery.
3.3. The Iron and Steel Industry
The iron and steel industry flourished in the Basque Country, fueled by its iron mines. Liberal governments encouraged the industry, which underwent modernization. From 1860 onwards, development accelerated due to the export of iron to England, which was interested in its phosphorus-rich iron. Ships carrying iron returned from England with cheaper coal, reducing transportation costs. The profits from iron exports led to the construction of shipyards and blast furnaces in the Bilbao estuary. In Catalonia, metallurgy developed, with engineers building the first locomotive.
3.4. Mining and Other Sectors
Spain faced challenges with coal quality, but it had other mineral deposits like lead, mercury, zinc, and copper. In 1868, the Basic Mining Law was passed, granting mining concessions. However, investors were hesitant, and many concessions ended up in foreign hands. This resulted in most of the profits from mining leaving Spain. Other sectors that progressed well during the nineteenth century were the agri-food industry and cork production.
4. Communications, Trade, and Financial System
4.1. Communications
Until the early nineteenth century, transportation relied on carts and animals. The road network had not changed significantly since the six royal roads connecting Madrid and its surroundings were built. In the nineteenth century, with the rise of industry, a fast and efficient communication network became necessary. This was made possible by the funds obtained from the confiscation of church lands under the Madoz Law. This money was used to build the railway network, facilitating trade between industrial and agricultural areas. The network adopted a radial structure. The postal service and telegraph were also established.
4.2. Trade
In the early nineteenth century, each region had different trade laws and currencies. It was necessary to standardize trade legislation and abolish internal customs. In 1841, Espartero removed the last internal customs. In 1848, the government of Narváez reformed the civil and criminal codes, and in 1889, general rules on trade legislation were adopted. The economy benefited from protectionism, which aimed to shield the Catalan textile industry and the Basque steel industry from foreign competition.
4.3. Financial System
a) Monetary Unification
In the first half of the nineteenth century, Spain used various currencies. It was necessary to update the system and introduce a single currency. After several attempts, the final reform was implemented by Minister Figuerola in 1869, introducing the peseta as the single currency. Six years later, the exclusive issuance of paper money by the Bank of Spain began. The use of bank checks was also standardized to strengthen the financial system.
b) Unification of Taxes
The tax system was archaic and lacked central control. Some regions had over 100 different taxes, and different regions had different tax systems. Modernization was essential to improve trade. The 1845 tax reform created a new system that reduced taxes to five groups:
- Property
- Cultivation and livestock
- Industry and trade
- Consumption
- Rentals/mortgages
5. The Labor Movement
5.1. Early Movement
The working class faced harsh conditions during the nineteenth century. Wages were low, and any price increase caused subsistence problems. Working conditions were poor, with noise, extreme temperatures, lack of ventilation, and frequent accidents. Dismissal was unrestricted, wages were reduced during crises, and there was no social protection. These conditions gradually led to the emergence of the labor movement. Initial demands lacked political aspirations or calls for social change. The first associations were established in the 1830s as mutual aid societies, providing support in case of illness or job loss. In 1840, the Cotton Industry Workers’ Mutual Aid Association was formed, providing support to textile workers and defending their collective interests. In June 1855, the first labor leader, Josep Barceló, was shot, leading to the first general strike in Catalonia in July. During the rest of Isabel II’s reign, associations were forbidden, and the right of association was not restored until the Glorious Revolution in 1868. The movement was supported by thinkers who denounced injustice and inequality and demanded social improvements.
5.2. The Definition of the Political Movement
In 1864, the International Workingmen’s Association (IWA) was founded with the goal of achieving economic and social emancipation for workers through collective ownership of the means of production and a classless society. In 1871, a conflict arose between its leaders, Marx and Bakunin. Marx advocated for a strong workers’ party that would seize power and establish a dictatorship of the proletariat, abolishing private property to build an egalitarian society. Bakunin sought the destruction of private property and all religious and political authority, envisioning a society organized by a federation of free associations. This conflict led to a division within the IWA, and in Spain, two factions emerged, each adhering to one of the ideologies.