19th Century Catalonia: Migration, Agriculture, and Industrialization
19th Century Catalonia
Migration
Types of Migration
- Internal Migration:
- Rural-urban migration, particularly during the 19th century.
- Center-periphery movement, especially from north to south, towards industrial centers like Catalonia.
- External Migration: Primarily to the Americas (especially from southern Spain).
Population Growth in 19th Century Catalonia
Catalonia’s population grew from 500,000 in 1787 to 900,000 in 1787 and reached 1.9 million by 1900. This rapid growth led to increased internal and external migration.
Emigration to the Catalan Antilles
Two-thirds of Catalan migrants in the late 19th century went to Cuba and Puerto Rico, driven by economic necessity.
Agriculture and Rural Life
Despite having the highest percentage of people employed in agriculture, Catalonia experienced stagnation in this sector during the 19th century, lagging behind other European regions.
Characteristics of Catalan Agriculture
- Outdated farming techniques (e.g., Roman plow, poor irrigation, lack of fertilizers).
- Concentration of land ownership in the hands of the privileged (Church and nobility), hindering agricultural modernization.
Changes in Land Ownership
- Restructuring of land ownership.
- Increase in cultivated land.
- Displacement of peasants, leading to urban migration.
Regional Specialization of Crops
By the end of the 19th century, different regions specialized in specific crops: grains in the north, citrus fruits in Valencia and Castellón, rice in the Ebro and Empordà regions, and nuts in Tarragona and Lleida.
Agrarian Crisis at the End of the Century
The 1880s and 1890s saw an agrarian crisis marked by falling agricultural prices and incomes, particularly affecting cereal production.
Phylloxera Crisis and the Rabassaire Conflict
The phylloxera insect devastated vineyards in France and Spain, including Catalonia. This crisis led to conflicts between landowners and rabassaires (sharecroppers), who had traditionally held long-term contracts. The crisis disrupted these agreements, causing unrest and the formation of the first peasant union in Spain.
Industrialization
Spain’s industrialization in the 19th century was concentrated in Catalonia and the Basque Country. Catalonia benefited from its geographical location, ports, entrepreneurial spirit, and investment.
Types of Manufacturing
- Steam-powered factories: Concentrated in urban areas like Barcelona and Mataró.
- Water-powered mills: Located along rivers, leading to the development of company towns.
Textiles
The loss of American colonies negatively impacted the Spanish economy. The Bonaplata, Vilaregut, Rull, and Company factory, established in Barcelona in 1832-1833, marked the beginning of steam-powered textile production in Catalonia. By 1850, Catalonia held over 90% of the Spanish textile market. The American Civil War triggered a cotton crisis, impacting the textile industry.
Iron and Steel Industry
Spain’s early iron and steel industry, reliant on charcoal, declined in the first half of the 19th century. New foundries emerged in the 1830s and 1840s. The Asturian mining and metallurgical industry grew significantly, with companies like the Sociedad Metalúrgica Duro y Compañía. The Basque steel industry also developed, with factories like Altos Hornos de Bilbao.
Mining
Spain became a major exporter of minerals like lead, zinc, copper, iron, and mercury. The 1868 mining law encouraged foreign investment, leading to the exploitation of mines by French and English companies.
Commerce, Infrastructure, and Communications
Internal Trade
Internal trade was limited due to transportation and communication difficulties, diverse currencies, and varying weights and measures.
External Trade
Spain had a strong maritime trade network, but often experienced a negative trade balance, exporting raw materials and importing manufactured goods.
Land Transportation
Road transport was slow, dangerous, and expensive. Railway construction began in 1845 with the Barcelona-Mataró line. By 1855, 10,800 km of railway lines had been built, but the radial structure left many areas unconnected.
Social Transformations and the Labor Movement
Industrialization led to the rise of the industrial bourgeoisie and the proletariat, creating social and economic inequalities. Despite legal equality, political participation was limited by census suffrage.
The Labor Movement
The labor movement emerged in response to harsh working conditions, long hours, low wages, lack of labor laws, and rigid factory rules. Workers began to organize to defend their interests and improve their lives.