Restoration Spain: Society, Culture, and Education

Society and Culture in Restoration Spain

The society of Restoration Spain was characterized as a dual society with two distinct groups:

• A vast agricultural interior with subsistence lifestyles and limited progress.
• A few industrialized areas where a modern society gradually emerged.

The connection between these two societies was weak, with many inland regions living in isolation. Poverty was widespread, hindering consumption, saving, industrial development, and social modernization.

The power block was formed by a bourgeois oligarchy, including Basque steel magnates, Catalan textile entrepreneurs, and Castilian cereal producers.

Society in Rural Areas

During the Restoration period, rural social groups included:

• Agrarian oligarchy, predominant in the two Castiles, Extremadura, and Andalusia.
• Lower middle classes, consisting of medium owners, tenants, and sharecroppers.
• Landless peasants, day laborers, who suffered intermittent unemployment and received very low wages. This group faced poor nutrition, sanitation deficiencies, and lack of basic education, with high illiteracy rates.

This social structure led to periodic violent social unrest, heavily repressed by the authorities.

Urban Society

Slow mining and industrial development led to the gradual emergence of a more modern society in certain areas.

• In the Basque Country, the steel industry and banking dominated, making it the most prosperous region.
• In Catalonia, the cotton textile industry accounted for 90% of Spain's industrial supply. The Catalan bourgeoisie thrived due to dynamic business practices and government protectionism.

Alongside the industrial and financial bourgeoisie, cities had a complex social structure:

• A heterogeneous middle class, including many with traditional habits, fear of change, and strong Church influence.
• Among the working classes, there were artisans in traditional jobs and a growing number of factory workers who began to form political organizations and unions.

Education

Censorship and Traditional Teaching

The Restoration period saw the establishment of rigid censorship against any criticism of the monarchy or Catholic dogma. This led to conflicts with educators, resulting in resignations and dismissals.

Traditional teaching methods prevailed, based on outdated, uncritical approaches under the supervision of the Catholic Church. This resulted in a significant backlog in scientific development and research, exacerbated by a lack of support from public and private institutions and the traditional mindset of the ruling classes.