Spain’s Labor Movement Origins: 1833-1875
Spain faced a significant slowdown in population growth due to high mortality rates, exacerbated by epidemics of cholera and yellow fever. This period was also marked by low agricultural yields and limited industrial development, often interrupted by wars.
Economic Developments
Agricultural progress was hindered by a lack of investment in machinery and fertilizers, resulting in low productivity. Land ownership was a fundamental issue. Lands were typically leased, and rents were charged to farmers. Landowners paid taxes and tithes to the state. Municipalities owned communal lands, which supplemented the income of the poorest farmers. Peasants were disincentivized from improving their crops due to the rental system and the inability to purchase land.
In Spain, much of the land was held by the “dead hand” (nobility and clergy). Secularization emerged as a means to alter land ownership. Two significant secularization processes occurred under Mendizabal and Madoz. Although 40% of the land changed ownership, it primarily went to nobles, burghers, and clergymen, worsening the living conditions of farmers.
Industrial development did not begin in earnest until 1860. The causes included industrial shortages and a lack of manpower. This era was characterized by limited technological innovations and restricted energy sources.
Spain’s poor communication infrastructure further hindered progress. Despite these challenges, Catalonia and the Basque Country emerged as major industrial centers:
- Catalonia: The textile industry, particularly cotton, which replaced the more expensive wool, became the most important sector. Catalonia’s industrial development significantly outpaced the rest of Spain.
- Basque Country: The focus was on metallurgy. Basque ports were used to export coal, especially to England. Shipyards were established for mineral export. Steel production gradually replaced iron.
Commercial Developments
The goal was to create a unified single market to enhance commercial development. Various initiatives were undertaken, including improvements in communication, the monetary system, and the tax system.
- Communication: The first railway line, connecting Barcelona and Mataró, was inaugurated in 1858. Construction was slow, and the law was amended to allow foreign capital to finance railway construction. The postal service was introduced in 1850, followed by the telegraph service in 1852.
- Currency: A common currency was adopted as the official currency, and in 1868, the state assumed a monopoly on currency creation.
- Tax Reform: Tax reforms varied by region. The aim was to establish a common structure where most state revenues came from monopolies and customs.
Social Developments
The most significant change was the rise of the bourgeoisie, who gained economic and political power. The bourgeoisie, a large and influential group, imposed its values on society. It was divided into two segments: the gentry (holding high political office) and the middle class (rentiers).
The nobility integrated into the bourgeoisie through land acquisition and marital alliances. Society was broadly divided into two groups: artisans and the rural population, which constituted the majority of Spaniards.
Workers’ Movement
The dire situation of the peasantry led to social unrest, culminating in the labor movement. Working conditions were harsh:
- Workdays exceeding 15 hours
- Inhuman factory conditions
- Arbitrary layoffs
- No pay for days not worked
- No holidays
From 1830, mutual aid societies emerged to provide support in cases of illness or job loss. These societies were only considered legal during progressive governments. In 1855, the first general strike took place, demanding freedom of association and a stable schedule. In 1864, the International Workingmen’s Association (AIT), later known as the First International, was founded to establish guidelines for the workers’ movement.
The First International’s main ideas included:
- Overcoming class divisions
- Emancipation of the working class
- Creation of an egalitarian society
A conflict between Marx and Bakunin led to the dissolution of the AIT and the subsequent formation of the Second International. In 1870, the first Spanish workers’ congress, influenced by anarchist ideas, was held in Barcelona. A second conference in Córdoba a year later reaffirmed these anarchist principles. In 1874, the labor movement in Spain was prohibited, forcing it to operate illegally and clandestinely.