Spain's 19th Century Transformations: Disentailment & Colonial Loss

The Spanish Desamortización: Economic & Social Impact

Economic and Social Consequences of Disentailment

The volume of land sold during the Desamortización was impressive, with 50% of cultivable land changing hands. Among the buyers were many landed aristocrats who sought to consolidate and increase their wealth. There were also numerous members of the secular clergy. However, the majority of buyers were from the bourgeoisie, who purchased land primarily as an investment.

Impact on Agriculture and Property Structure

The effects on agriculture were not generally adapted to the economic goals of those pursuing the reforms. While there was an increase in the area of cereals and potatoes under cultivation, thus increasing agricultural productivity, this had little to do with the Desamortización's original intent. The Desamortización largely confirmed the traditional structure of agricultural property: smallholdings north of the Duero and Ebro rivers, and large estates south of the Duero. In the southern half of Spain, the Desamortización allowed for an immense concentration of holdings into the large estates that constitute the properties we know today.

The Peasantry and Agrarian Proletarianization

For the peasantry, the Desamortización was a drama. They could not access property and lost the benefits of all municipal common lands. Furthermore, the new owners, often non-agricultural enterprises, dispossessed them and imposed new, often harsh, income conditions. Many farmers were forced to leave their farmlands, leading to a very serious agrarian proletarianization. A new class of owner emerged: the 'gentleman' or landed gentry, originating from the bourgeoisie.

Political Consequences of the Desamortización

Formation of the Liberal State and Social Bases

The Desamortización, as a process, was a very important part of the creation of the Spanish liberal state. Various aspects of national policy were determined by this process, and vice versa, including the public debt, the Carlist Wars, and especially relations with the Church.

Church-State Relations and Peasant Discontent

The legalization and justification of the Desamortización became a weapon that profoundly redefined relations between Church and State. The Desamortización had a significant effect on defining the social bases of the new liberal regime. On one hand, it created a new social class: the liberal landowning bourgeoisie, whose wealth was directly linked to the Desamortización. In the southern half of Spain, this class became the primary base of support for the Spanish liberal state, albeit from very conservative ideological presuppositions. As agrarians, they often clashed with the very essence of the liberal system. This support is explicitly and very clearly seen in the last quarter of the century within the cacique (political boss) system.

Conversely, the Desamortización sentenced many farmers to a life of hardship, as they identified it as the source of all their miseries. This caused much of the peasantry, especially in the southern half, to gravitate towards very radical and often very violent revolutionary ideologies. The coincidence of these two extreme groups in the countryside created a real powder keg.

Finally, the entire process culminated in a privatization that affected not only the land but also the entire architectural, cultural, and artistic heritage previously possessed by the Church.

The Spanish Colonial Wars of Independence

Decline of the Spanish Colonial Empire

Spain entered 1800 with its colonial empire largely intact. However, during the 18th century, America had already become a self-sufficient space. In its cities, a relatively wealthy and educated bourgeoisie had emerged, desiring to supplement their economic power with political status and control over the administration.

The War of Trafalgar (1805) severely disrupted communications with the colonies amidst a general crisis of power in Spain. This forced the colonies to begin functioning autonomously. In America, facing the French threat (Napoleonic invasion of Spain), local juntas (councils) were formed for defense to prevent possible attacks. These juntas represented a crucial step towards independence. Initially, these meetings were often liberal and proclaimed loyalty to Ferdinand VII, but their claims for independence soon merged with the anti-absolutist liberal revolution against the Spanish government.

The Independence Process and Remaining Territories

Between 1812 and 1824, the independence of most Spanish colonies in America occurred, with figures like Simón Bolívar playing a leading role. Spain was ultimately left with only Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine archipelago in the Pacific islands. These three colonies differed significantly from the newly independent nations.

• In the Philippines, the Spanish presence was minimal, primarily military, alongside a network of missions aimed at Hispanicizing Filipino culture.
• Cuba and Puerto Rico were large haciendas controlled by a landowning oligarchy. Unlike other regions, the bourgeoisie in these islands was very limited and held much less power. For this oligarchy, maintaining slavery was vital, a system guaranteed by the Spanish monarchy. Consequently, this monarchy would not support independence movements in these territories.