Andalusian Agrarian Revolts & Social Change in 19th Century Spain
Andalusian Agrarian Revolts
The Struggle for Land and Freedom
Every struggle has a purpose: achieving deserved freedom. By 1850, Andalusian peasants faced dire circumstances. The unequal distribution of property and increasing proletarianization fueled radical peasant movements. The final straw was the confiscation of land by the Progressives, dashing hopes for a fair deal for laborers.
Rising Tensions and Open Revolt
Agrarian insurrections became commonplace in Andalusia. Peasant uprisings often involved illegal land occupations, distribution of land among laborers, destruction of property records, and clashes with law enforcement. A significant land occupation movement swept Andalusia in 1855. A few years later, a revolt shook Utrera and El Arahal in Seville.
More serious and organized uprisings followed. Six hundred peasants revolted in Loja, and up to forty-three villages in Cadiz, Malaga, Granada, Almeria, and Jaen joined, forming an army of 10,000 armed men and many more unarmed. However, lack of political support and fear of the movement’s radicalism led to its failure. Despite this, the desire for land and peasant movements persisted for over half a century.
Population Growth in 19th Century Spain
Spain’s population grew by over 50% during the 19th century, from 11 million in 1800 to over 18 million in 1900. This growth, however, was modest compared to other European powers. Concentrated in the latter two-thirds of the century, it was influenced by the War of Independence and the emancipation of colonies. Industrial coastal regions like Catalonia and Basque Country experienced faster growth than agricultural regions like Castile and Extremadura.
Another trend was the rural-to-urban population shift. While only Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia exceeded 100,000 inhabitants in the early 1800s, several cities reached populations between 100,000 and 200,000 by the century’s end.
Industry: A Late and Incomplete Development
Industrialization in 19th century Spain was delayed and incomplete, particularly in its initial phase until 1830. Significant momentum didn’t occur until 1850-70. Several factors contributed to this:
- Expensive Asturian coal with difficult extraction and low calorific value
- Low purchasing power of the population, limiting demand for industrial goods
- Lack of capital, forcing reliance on foreign investment
Textiles and Steel: Key Sectors
Textiles and steel emerged as key industries in Catalonia and the Basque Country, respectively. Cotton gained prominence, and in 1833, the Bonaplata factory in Barcelona introduced the steam engine. The Catalan textile sector boomed until 1860. The Civil War in 1861 and a European “cotton hunger” impacted the industry, but protectionist measures and demand from Cuba and Puerto Rico later revived it. Barcelona and other cities like Terrassa and Sabadell specialized in various textile products.
Malaga pioneered steel production, but the Nervión basin in Vizcaya became the primary hub. Bilbao’s port facilitated access to cheaper, higher-quality British coal and iron ore exports to England and Belgium. The mid-century saw the establishment of a blast furnace at Bolueta, and in 1902, the merger of three companies formed Altos Hornos de Vizcaya.
The Rise of Social Movements
Early Trade Unions
Limited industrialization meant Spain had fewer workers compared to other industrialized nations. Concentrated in Barcelona, with growing numbers in the Basque Country, Valencia, and Asturias, workers began forming trade unions, primarily in Catalonia. These unions held meetings, elected representatives, and negotiated with employers. Spain’s first union, the Company of Weavers, was founded in Barcelona in 1840.
These early unions, often organized by trade, functioned as both demand platforms for better working conditions and wages, and as friendly societies. Disputes arose in cities like Granada (1839), Madrid (1842), Valencia (1843), Bejar (1856), Alcoy (1857), and Antequera (1857).
The First General Strike
During the Progressive Biennium (1854-1856), Barcelona witnessed Spain’s first general strike. In July 1855, the introduction of new spinning machines (selfactinas) triggered worker strikes and demonstrations. Repression sparked solidarity, with some radicals storming factories and destroying machinery. The protest’s magnitude led Catalonia’s captain general to prohibit the machines. While employers resisted, a joint committee of employers and workers negotiated wage increases.
This event marked a turning point in proletarian consciousness, signifying the beginning of class unionism and establishing strikes as an effective tool for workers.
Connecting Industrial and Agrarian Unrest
The Progressive Biennium’s land confiscations, which disproportionately benefited private interests, further fueled agrarian unrest in Andalusia. Peasant uprisings, characterized by land occupations, property record destruction, and clashes with authorities, became increasingly common.
A major land occupation movement occurred in Andalusia, Aragon, and Castile in 1855. Utrera and Arahal saw unrest in 1857, and the Andalusian countryside remained tense between 1861 and 1867. While these movements ultimately failed due to lack of political support and fear of their radicalism, they highlight the interconnectedness of social and economic struggles in 19th century Spain.