Aragon's 19th Century Economic and Labor Shifts

Nineteenth Century Aragon: Growth and Challenges

During the nineteenth century, the region's population was increasing, but remained weak compared to the rest of Spain. While Aragon's population doubled, Spain's population also doubled. Zaragoza experienced huge growth thanks to its economic activities.

After the War of Independence, Aragon became impoverished. Martín de Garay, the Finance Minister, failed to carry out tax reform to alleviate its debt. Crop failures compounded the situation, increasing vandalism and begging.

Secularization only benefited the bourgeoisie, who began capitalizing on the land.

Zaragoza: Engine of Economic Change

For Aragon, mining industries were created, and communications improved. The great leap in communications occurred with the railway. In 1852, construction began on the line from Zaragoza to Barcelona, with many more following. Improvements were also noted in agriculture, particularly olive growing.

Political reforms and transformations in the economy benefited the bourgeoisie. The misery and insecurity in the area forced the population to emigrate to Zaragoza, the Aragonese capital, causing the labor proletariat to grow.

Rise of the Labor Movement

Since 1860, the ideology of the labor movement penetrated Aragon. A proletariat consumer association was created in Zaragoza, a labor union related to the Federal Republican Party.

The Zaragoza labor federation joined the International Association of Workers.

In 1872, the second congress took place in Zaragoza. The presence of Paul Lafargue, son of Karl Marx, contributed to strengthening and expanding the labor movement.

The international division of labor reflected in Aragon, where there was an anarchist influence.

The Restoration attempted to repress the labor movement. In 1890, the first [protest/event] was held in Aragon, and in 1891, it settled in Zaragoza.

Late 19th and Early 20th Century Figures

In the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Ricardo Magdalena and Felix Navarro were the two most notable figures.

Their buildings were based on the historic and eclectic nineteenth-century heritage, utilizing iron and glass formulas alongside Catalan modernism.

Sculpture

• It should be noted that John Adam was one of the best artists, recognized for ecclesiastical portraits of nobles and kings.
• Ponciano Ponzano is also responsible for the front of the Palace of Congresses and the lions there.

Painters

Besides them, include:

• Mariano Goya.
• Francisco Pradilla BARBASAN, a historicist artist and author of pictures.