Land Confiscation and Transformation in 19th Century

In the old regime (AR), land ownership was paramount. The shift to a new regime (NR) was significantly influenced by changes in land ownership, primarily through confiscations. The forms of land ownership, along with technical aspects and crop types, were crucial factors. The primary goal of land confiscation was to transition from expropriated land to private property and a market economy.

Confiscated lands, previously held by the church, nobility, and municipalities, were considered "dead hand" assets, hindering the desired capitalist system. The confiscation laws aimed to transform institutional private property for market entry. These laws, enacted during liberal governments, sought to abolish feudal and jurisdictional rights, primogeniture, and the Mesta.

The process occurred in two phases: first, the nationalization of land, decoupling it from the nobility, and the sale of church and municipal properties. Second, the sale of these lands to private individuals, generating state revenue through cash or debt payments. This revenue was intended to address public finance issues and create a group of liberal landowners. The economic goal was to transform agriculture from property-based to profit-based. Socially, it was hoped that the middle class and peasantry would acquire land, but this failed, with only the wealthy benefiting.

The confiscation process spanned the 19th century, coinciding with progressive governments. While earlier attempts were made, the most significant were the Mendizábal (M) and Madoz confiscations. The 1836 Mendizábal confiscation was particularly impactful, rapidly and extensively affecting church property. Initially targeting the regular clergy, it expanded to the secular clergy in 1837. Liberalism aimed to eliminate Treasury debts through these measures.

The 1855 Madoz confiscation expropriated land from municipalities, the state, and other institutions with minimal compensation, under the "law of general confiscation." The funds were intended for investments, particularly in railways, with the first railway in the peninsula being built in Barcelona in 1848. This process was the longest, concluding in 1924.

Consequences of Land Confiscation

• Consolidation of Private Property: The process solidified private property rights.
• Increased Land Concentration: The agrarian problem worsened due to increased land concentration, creating large estates and smallholdings.
• Beneficiaries: The nobility and bourgeoisie were the primary beneficiaries.
• Affected Groups: The Church, municipalities, and small farmers were negatively impacted, leading to the rise of laborers.

Politically, liberalism gained significant support, and the separation of church and state began in 1836, becoming complete by 1951. Socially, a new bourgeois class and laborers emerged. Culturally, the disappearance of religious orders led to the deterioration of historic buildings and artistic heritage.

Conclusion

The land confiscation period was not a complete failure, as it achieved goals such as financing the Carlist wars, paying public debts, investing in railways, and restructuring land ownership. However, it failed to achieve other objectives, such as increasing agricultural production. The revenue generated was less than expected due to debt purchases and corruption, and the land problem worsened. Industrialization was not achieved.