19th Century Spain: Population Growth, Industrialization, and Social Change

19th Century Spain: Population Growth and Industrial Transformation

The 19th century witnessed significant population growth in Spain, increasing from approximately 11.5 million in 1800 to 18.6 million. This growth was fueled by several factors:

• Improved birth rates and declining mortality rates
• Better nutrition and overall quality of life
• Increased life expectancy
• Advances in healthcare and medicine

Regions like Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Asturias, and the Basque Country experienced particularly rapid population growth.

Agricultural Shifts and Rural Exodus

Farmers began leaving rural lands, a phenomenon driven by:

• Mechanization of agriculture
• Abolition of noble privileges
• Concentration of land ownership

Many migrated to urban areas or emigrated to Cuba and Latin America. Consequently, the urban population grew, while the rural agricultural population declined.

Liberal Reforms and Social Conditions

The Reforma Liberal aimed to dismantle the old feudal system. However, most farmers and laborers continued to live in poverty. Some migrated in search of better opportunities.

Early Industrialization

Around 1830, the textile industry began to mechanize with the introduction of spinning machines. Industries sought to harness rivers for hydropower, but steel production struggled due to the high cost of coking coal and the poor quality of Spanish coal. The Basque Country saw industrial growth due to its iron ore resources.

Obstacles to Industrial Growth

• Scarce buying power among the population
• Lack of investment
• Inadequate transportation infrastructure
• Spain's relative position compared to the rest of Europe

Mining and Resource Extraction

Major mining sites included:

• Lead (Linares, La Carolina)
• Copper (Riotinto)
• Mercury (Almadén)
• Zinc (Reocín)

Many of these sites were leased to foreign firms to finance debt.

Railway Development

The construction of a railway network gained momentum after the 1855 Ley General de Ferrocarriles (General Railway Law). This stimulated internal trade, although Spain still relied on imports for steel. The railway layout, centered on Madrid, hindered trade with Europe.

New Energy and Industries

New sources of energy and industries emerged:

• Electricity (enabling more extensive mechanization and lower production costs)
• Oil (and the invention of the internal combustion engine)
• Metallurgy
• Chemical industry

Industry spread to regions like Madrid, the Basque Country, Asturias, and Valencia. While Spain experienced economic growth, regional wealth distribution remained uneven, with Catalonia concentrating most of the industry.

Social Classes

The dominant social classes of the 19th century were the landowning nobility, who retained their ancestral lands, and the upper classes, who owned new industries, large companies, and banks.

The Rise of Labor Movements

The first workers' association was the Associació de Teixidors de Barcelona, which aimed to reduce working hours, increase wages, and secure workers' rights. During periods of democratic governance, the ideas of Marxism and anarchism spread. Anarchism took root among workers and peasants in Catalonia and Andalusia, leading to the founding of the Solidaridad Obrera (Workers' Solidarity), a national labor confederation. Socialism gained traction among proletarians in Asturias, the Basque Country, and Madrid, resulting in the formation of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) and the UGT (General Union of Workers).