19th Century Spanish Social Transformations: A Deep Dive
Social Transformations in 19th Century Spain
The nineteenth century witnessed a profound transformation of Spanish society.
The processes of agrarian reform and industrial development gave rise to new social classes, culminating in the disappearance of the estate society and the emergence of a new society based on property rights and equality before the law and taxation: the class society.
Population Demographics
The Demographic Transition
First third of the nineteenth century: Slow growth, cultivation of new land, industrial growth, some political stability.
After 1830: Population increases due to a higher number of marriages and a decrease in emigration (new economic possibilities).
In general, the mortality rate was very high due to short life expectancy, poor sanitation, few medical professionals, crises of subsistence, high infant mortality, epidemics, and endemic diseases. However, the birth rate was also very high due to peasant poverty and ignorance about contraception. Both factors resulted in very low population growth.
Migration in the Nineteenth Century
Internal Migration and Rural Exodus
Intensified from 1850 to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao, polarizing displacement; Spain was still a rural country.
External Migration
Forbidden until 1853. Emigrants included manual workers, traders, and some technicians, in addition to political exiles. Some returned with wealth: these were the “Indians.”
Urbanization
Simultaneous with industrialization and internal migration was the growth of Spanish cities.
The Structure of Society
The Formation of a Modern Class Society
A pre-industrial society, primarily agricultural and typical of the old regime, combined with liberal legislation and economic growth in the second half of the century, led to the development of a modern class society. In this new society, individuals were citizens equal before the law, and social classes were based on economic distinctions with constant changes.
- Slow rural population decline and increase in industrial and tertiary sectors
- Population growth of the middle classes
- Transformation of the farming population
- Development of a business bourgeoisie
- Emergence of the industrial proletariat
- Modern social conflict replaced traditional feudal clashes
- Decline in the Church population
- Increase in professions linked to the development of the state, politically and culturally active
- The upper classes often changed their way of life and economic activity
The New Upper-Class Social Classes
The aristocracy retained their titles but lost their feudal privileges. They became part of the ruling groups of the new society due to their land ownership and high levels of business income. They controlled political power and displayed a conservative ideology. Two classes stand out:
- The nobility: With great economic power and political influence, they magnified their assets through confiscation. They also invested in industry, railways, and banking.
- The big bourgeoisie: A heterogeneous group including large retailers, agricultural landowners, and financial speculators. They lived in Madrid, Barcelona, or Bilbao.
The Middle Classes
A very diverse group with a variety of types:
- Rural: Medium-sized farm owners (not landlords)
- Urban: Middle bourgeoisie, qualified employees of the administration, professionals in law or health, ideologically apolitical, with leanings towards republicanism and progressive liberalism. Many played a key role in the patronage system of the Restoration.
The Popular Classes
Rural lower classes: The majority of the population, with differences between northern and southern Spain. In the north, they were small and medium-sized owners; in the south, an oligarchy controlled the property and the laborer figure. South of the Tagus, harsh working conditions and long seasons of unemployment kept them on the edge of subsistence.
Urban underclass: Smaller in number. They were part of the service sector, including servants and domestic workers. Industrial economic development in cities created an industrial proletariat with very harsh working and living conditions. Reforms in the early 20th century did not lead to laws that improved working conditions, as the ruling groups did not enact them.
The Beginning of the Labor Movement
It was a slow and complex process, given the lack of freedom and government repression. Moreover, until the late nineteenth century, the proletariat was not unified: peasant mobilizations were repressed by the Guardia Civil. Two trends emerged: Anarchism and patronage.
Urban working classes: Demobilized, away from politics and unions.
Industrial proletariat: Very active in the labor movement.
Evolution of the Labor Movement
Reign of Isabella II
- 1830: Birth of the “mutual aid societies.” The Mutual Association of the Cotton Industry was founded in Barcelona in 1840, following the conflict in 1835 at the “The Steamer” factory in Barcelona.
- Partnerships with union activities were created in industrial zones.
- These organizations were strengthened during the Progressive Biennium (1854-56): Beginning of class unionism, the strike was consolidated as the most effective labor demand. In 1855, the first weekly workers’ newspaper, The Echo of the Working Class, was founded.
Six-Year Democratic Period (1868-1874)
The labor movement experienced huge momentum and radicalization, with peasant and worker revolts. At first, the Republicans coalesced around the labor movement. Two ideologies entered Spain: anarchism and socialism. In 1864, the International Workingmen’s Association (IWA) was created, with Marx and Bakunin as protagonists. In 1871, clashes spread Marxist ideas. Marxist-anarchist conflicts were very common. Internationalism reached its peak during the First Republic.
The Restoration (1874-1931)
The IWA was declared illegal, weakening the internationalist movement, which was later replaced by Marxism and anarchism.
Marxist Ideology
Destruction of capitalism and its replacement with communism to achieve equality, not only politically but also socially and economically, through: the elimination of private property, class struggle, the dictatorship of the proletariat, and a classless society. Historical materialism. Marxism was more rooted in Madrid, the Basque Country, and Asturias.
Anarchist Ideology
Importance of freedom, denial of any hierarchy, importance of education, and achievement of a libertarian society. It differed from Marxism in its greater heterogeneity, its refusal to participate in political life and authority, its rejection of the existence of the state, and the importance it placed on freedom over equality. Its modus operandi was propaganda by the deed. Anarchism gained ground in Catalonia and Andalusia.