The Biennial Progressive Crisis and the Rise of Spanish Labor Movements

The Crisis of the Biennial Progressive

In the 1820s, the Luisma was the first expression of rebellion against the introduction of new machines, which were blamed for job losses and declining wages. In Alçay, workers raided and burned city looms; the most significant incident was the burning of the Bonaplata factory in Barcelona, the first steam-powered facility to operate in Spain.

However, workers soon understood that the source of their problems was not the machinery itself, but the working conditions imposed by owners. Consequently, the focus of labor protests shifted toward labor relations, defending the right of association, and improving living conditions, marking the beginning of asociacionismo.

The Rise of Associative Movements

The associative movement spread, leading to the creation of Friendly Societies. Workers contributed a small fee to these organizations to ensure assistance in the event of unemployment, illness, or death. These associations expanded throughout Spain, advocating for:

• Higher wages
• Reduced working hours
• The right to collective bargaining

Strikes became a primary tool to pressure employers, with workers' societies creating funds to support those involved in resistance. The first general strike occurred during the Biennial Progressive, triggered by the introduction of new spinning machines—the selfactinas—which reduced labor needs and caused widespread unemployment.

Decomposition of the Unionist Government

The new Unionist government under O'Donnell attempted to maintain political balance by addressing the crisis of the railroads. However, the economic performance of these lines was lower than expected. Investors demanded government subsidies, but the state lacked the necessary funds and could not resort to borrowing, as public debt had collapsed.

Economic and Industrial Instability

This financial crisis coincided with an industrial downturn. The textile industry relied on cotton imported from the U.S., but the American Civil War (1861–1865) disrupted imports, causing a period of "cotton famine."

The crisis intensified in 1866, compounded by a series of poor harvests that resulted in a shortage of wheat, a staple of the Spanish population. Prices rose sharply: between 1865 and 1867, wheat prices increased by 65%, and by 1868, the cost of cereal had doubled compared to 1865 levels.