19th Century Class Structure and the Rise of Worker Movements

19th Century Social Structure and Urbanization

Artisans and Urban Clusters

Following the disappearance of trade union privileges around 1830, cities retained a strong traditional sector, and manufacturing production remained a minority activity. Urban growth, coupled with the new liberal state structure, led to the concentration of various service workers in cities, including small officials, bank employees, and others.

The Humbler Classes

The humbler classes were dominated by women employed in domestic work, followed by young men in commerce and autonomous individual sellers.

Evolution of the Peasantry

Liberal land reform concentrated land ownership, significantly increasing the number of landless peasants. This led to short-term exploitation contracts and widespread landlordism. However, in later years, the number of laborers, tenants, and small landowners increased.

The power and influence of landowners were immense, forcing peasants to transition from traditional protection systems to wage labor and management structures. Throughout the nineteenth century, peasants faced frustrated aspirations and a deep hunger for land. They were subjected to harsh living conditions, abusive practices, and high rates of illiteracy.

The Emergence of the Proletariat

The rise of modern industry was characterized by the widespread use of hired labor. The rules governing this type of work were similar everywhere: the employer hired workers in exchange for low wages.

The Birth of the Labor Movement

Early Worker Resistance (1820s)

In the 1820s, Luddism was the first major expression of worker rebellion against the introduction of new machinery, which was responsible for job losses and declining wages.

Workers soon realized that the source of their problems lay not in the machines themselves, but in the harsh working conditions. The subsequent struggle focused on defending the right to association and improving living standards. This led to the first embryos of worker associations designed to defend their collective interests.

Worker Demands and Tactics

These associations extended workers' demands, focusing on:

• Increasing wages.
• Decreasing salaried time (working hours).

Strikes became a crucial instrument for pressuring employers and society. Workers also created mutual aid funds to support striking or unemployed members.

Agrarian Revolts (1840s-1850s)

By 1840, the majority of rural workers were day laborers. Years of poor harvests led to chronic hunger and widespread misery for many farmers. This problem was severely compounded in 1855 with the seizure of communal lands, as exploited land passed into private hands.

Consequently, peasant uprisings occurred. The repression of these movements caused many casualties among the farmers who dared to resist.

Utopian Socialism and Republicanism

The nascent labor movement was enhanced by various ideological manifestations, starting with Utopian Socialism. This doctrine sought to create egalitarian societies based on collective ownership and the equal distribution of wealth.

Socialist doctrines gained traction through the dissemination of ideas by many utopian writers. Notable socialists who advocated for cooperative socialism included Sixto Cámara and Francisco Pi y Maragall.