Societal Shifts in 19th-Century Spain: Classes to Proletariat
ITEM 6: The Dissolution of the Privileged Classes
It dissolves the clergy and nobility. Class society becomes a classist society. There is a new organization of social groups where all citizens have the title, but the rich have more power than the poor. The working class (proletariat) emerges.
The Survival of the Nobility
Only the high nobility survives. The high nobility still has political and economic power (but not as much as before). The middle and lower classes lose power and become doctors or join the bourgeoisie.
The Bourgeoisie
The upper classes are great bankers and entrepreneurs. They lend to nobles, who are then charged interest.
The Catalan Industrial Bourgeoisie
In Catalonia, there was a textile industry, especially in the capital (Barcelona).
- Chamber of Commerce: To enable transportation and finance.
- Promotion of national labor: To pay for workers.
The independence of Catalonia (language, culture, etc.) did not please Madrid, the center of Spain. So, it was in a position to make the right decisions.
The Middle Classes
They are divided into:
- Public employees (civil servants, teachers, clerks, etc.).
- Liberal professions.
Their economic capacity was limited.
Craftsmen and Urban Groups
The production of manufactured goods decreases because of the industry. In Catalonia, the only surviving artisans were traders and small partnerships of artisans. Service workers were also created (engaged in urban infrastructure). Women who worked were occupied with domestic affairs.
The Evolution of the Peasantry
Farmers are given land to work. In Spain, there were regional differences. Within the peasantry, there was the highest rate of illiteracy.
Lack of work in the field led to:
- Emigration towards the city.
- Social conflicts in the field.
The Emergence of the Proletariat
The proletariat, in exchange for their effort, are given a salary. It originates from the process of industrialization. Hand labor was employed. The proletarians were governed by the boss (the head), who made them work for minimum wage. Due to conditions, whether they were men, women, or children, they received a different salary, always being higher for men. The population was growing the most in manufacturing (factories) in Asturias and the Basque Country.
The Daily Life of the Bourgeoisie
The big bourgeoisie, who had a lot of free time, spent their time on leisure activities. The bourgeois forms of entertainment were very varied: they could go to high school as well as being owners of casinos and circles.
The First Trade Unions
Trade Unions in Catalonia
The first expression of rebelliousness was Luddism, which was dedicated to the destruction of machines. As there was no security when they lost their job or when they were sick, mutual aid societies were established. When workers wanted to achieve something that was denied by the employer, they resorted to strikes.
Republicanism and Utopian Socialism
The new current, utopian socialism, sought to create egalitarian societies, establish communism, and end the injustice of liberal society. The focus is on federal republicanism, which is linked to the first Spanish working class.
The Arrival of the International
In Spain, anarchist ideals were mainly expanded. The FRE (Spanish Regional Federation) of the AIT (International Workers’ Association) was created.
Crisis of the FRE
It had a big crisis.