Spain’s Economic Prosperity: 1875-1898 Analysis
Spain’s Economic Prosperity: 1875-1898
The period of 1875-1898 in Spain was characterized by economic prosperity and increased population. Population growth was similar to the rest of Europe, and the economy was generally expanding. However, significant intellectual and social inequality existed.
Demography
Demographic modernization in Spain was somewhat delayed. The population increase arrived later than in other parts of Europe. Birth and mortality rates fell slowly towards the end of the century. Mortality rates in Spain were high due to medical, economic, and social factors, as well as epidemics and wars. Economic modernization primarily occurred in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Madrid.
Migration patterns included emigration to America, with people from Valencia and Murcia migrating to North Africa and France. There was also a flow of migrants to urban areas, especially Madrid, Barcelona, the Basque Country, and Valencia. The active population reflected the general delay in modernization. Spain remained primarily an agrarian country. The industrial and service populations increased very slowly and were mainly concentrated in industrial cores in Barcelona, Biscay, and Asturias.
The Economy
The first stage of the Restoration coincided with an era of economic prosperity. Along with the expansion of the rail network, increasing farm incomes and the continuing process of industrialization, especially in Catalonia, were indicators of this progress.
Agriculture
Traditional and modern agriculture co-existed in the Spanish countryside. The large cereal crops were olives and vines, which occupied 85% of the territory. The rail extension facilitated crop specialization. The reduction in grain zones was due to the abandonment of some areas due to poor performance. Wine production grew circumstantially in the late 19th century. This increase was due to the expansion of phylloxera in France, which enabled rapid growth of Spanish exports. This era concluded with the spread of phylloxera through Spain and the ensuing crisis. Vineyards and olive groves had tremendous growth in their devoted area.
Fruit crops and new crops were located in the Mediterranean regions, where the proximity of major consumer cities facilitated trade and encouraged the application of modern methods.
Mining and Communications Industry
The late nineteenth century saw the development of iron mining, the start of an iron and steel industry, and the construction of naval mines. The Mines Act of 1869 and the arrival of European equities produced a euphoria that affected exporting minerals to different parts of the country. The Almaden mercury, Andalusian iron, lead, and zinc were released. Vessels carrying iron ore returned full of British coal, which was superior to Asturian coal. These iron exports generated prominent Basque capital, which was the basis of Bilbao’s bank. This bank enabled the Basque industry to develop shipping and metal constructions.
Catalonia was an important industrial center with a strong textile industry. The cotton industry was assisted by trade relations with the Antilles, experiencing a period of splendor between 1875-1886. However, the structure remained sized companies with small, outdated machinery and defended by a protectionist politics of the time. Other industries included cloth factories in Castilla y León, the wool industry of Sabadell and Terrassa, and the food industry (oil and flour) mainly in Andalusia. The Railways Act of 1877 prompted the formation of new companies, increasing the presence of Spanish capital and the founding of the state.