Industrial and Social Transformation in Spain: 1898-1931
Industrial Development (1898-1931)
Four significant changes marked this period:
- Energy Shift: Electricity replaced coal as a primary energy source.
- Heavy Industry: Concentration in the Basque Country.
- Diversification: New chemical and food industries emerged.
- Mining Growth: Increased coal mining in Asturias and iron in the Basque Country.
Spanish industry struggled to compete internationally, leading to protectionist measures like the Cambo Tariff Act of 1918.
Demographic Panorama
Significant migration occurred from rural areas to urban centers. Madrid and the peninsular periphery experienced an exodus. Major attraction points included Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, and Madrid, along with mining outbreaks in Huelva and Cordoba. Galicia saw a migratory flow to America.
Economic Situation
The loss of colonies impacted Catalonia, which had held a monopoly on the textile industry. The growth of capital led to the creation of large banks. World War I (1914-1918) initially favored the Spanish economy, but it also resulted in wage growth disparities and increased social unrest. The Russian Revolution of 1917 further radicalized the left.
Labor Movement Developments
Industrial and labor movements were particularly active in Madrid, the Basque Country, Asturias, and Barcelona.
Living Conditions
Working families endured harsh living conditions, often sharing small houses with other families. Poor working conditions included 10-12 hour workdays without Sundays, lack of contracts, poor hygiene and safety, minimal pay, and high illiteracy rates.
Ideologies and Unions
Certain sectors mobilized the working class through media, rallies, and strikes. The working class was largely anticlerical. The Spanish labor movement was divided into two main groups: socialists (UGT) and anarchists (CNT). The PSOE political party gained parliamentary representation in 1910 in Asturias, the Basque Country, Madrid, and Alicante. The Communist Party of Spain (PCE) was formed in 1921. Key organizations included:
- 1911: National Labor Confederation (CNT) in Catalonia.
- 1927: Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI) in Valencia.
Social Dynamics of the Labor Movement
The period from 1898 to 1931 was marked by constant social tension and working-class protests, including demonstrations and strikes. Riots and barricades were frequent during strikes, often resulting in casualties as the government responded with arrests, newspaper closures, and the use of force, sometimes even involving the army. The right to strike was legalized in 1909, coinciding with the Tragic Week in Catalonia. Key demands included salary increases, prohibition of night work for women, the right to strike, and a 10-hour workday. The year 1917 marked a turning point in the social order. Conflict escalated between 1919 and 1923, including a three-month strike. The “Ley de Fugas” (Escape Law) was applied, allowing police to shoot and kill prisoners under the pretense that they were attempting to escape. The 1923 coup of Primo de Rivera, a more favorable economic context, the decline of the revolutionary movement, and the persecution of the CNT and communists mitigated tension and violence, albeit at the expense of freedoms repressed by the military dictatorship.