Key Concepts in Social History and Economics
Luddism
An English movement against the new industrial system, which manifested in spontaneous and violent actions, including the destruction of instruments of production considered responsible for unemployment.
International Workers’ Association (IWA)
Abbreviation for the International Workers’ Association, a workers’ organization based in London, also known as the First International. It formed sections or federations in several countries and was led by a Central Committee. It advocated for the emancipation and conquest of political power by workers to liberate themselves from economic oppression and achieve social transformation. It gave rise to socialists, anarchists, and trade unionists.
Spanish Regional Federation of the AIT (FRE-AIT)
The Spanish Regional Federation of the AIT was established in 1870 at the Barcelona Congress. It was established and run by Bakuninist anarchists, with 60,000 members. It was declared illegal in 1872, aligning with the anarchists, who eventually had to go underground.
Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)
Founded in Madrid, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party had worker-oriented guidance and supported social revolution. Its reform program included:
- The right of association, assembly, and demonstration
- Universal suffrage
- Reduction of working hours
- Elimination of child labor
The new workers’ party expanded in the regions of Madrid, the Basque Country, and Asturias.
National Labor Confederation (CNT)
A syndicate founded in 1910 in Barcelona, with the aim of expanding throughout Spain. Its ideology was based on respect for the independence of the proletariat from the bourgeoisie, workers’ unity, and the desire to overthrow capitalism through expropriation.
Federation of Workers of the Spanish Region (FTRE)
Bakuninist in orientation, it adapted to the new law banning international organizations directed from abroad.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person born in a given country in the same year is expected to live, assuming mortality rates remain constant for each age group in the future.
Infant Mortality
A demographic indicator pointing to the number of deaths in a population of children under 1 year of age.
Rural Exodus
The displacement of the rural population to urban areas. This phenomenon is characteristic of the era of industrialization. Typically, young people migrate from the countryside to the city.
Urban Population
Population residing in locations with more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Eixample
A network of new streets and houses designed to accommodate a growing population. It responds to the concentration of industry, population, and traffic in cities.
Urbanization
The phenomenon that accelerates the growth of cities in terms of population and area, and the expansion of urban lifestyles.
Customs Tariff
An official rate establishing duties to be paid for specific imported products.
Market Economy
Production systems where commercial relations predominate. Characteristic of capitalist states.
Public Debt
Debt incurred by the state through the sale of securities representing this debt on the market. The issuance of debt is a consequence of the need to match state revenues and expenditures, as it is not always possible to achieve this by increasing taxes.
Mayorazgo (Primogeniture)
In Castile during the Middle Ages, this was the name given to the institution by which a certain portion of family assets was considered an inalienable unit, providing a lordly inheritance based on primogeniture.
Public Treasury
The joint management bodies of the state responsible for securing financial resources for the state’s coffers. It encompasses both spending and revenues, planning tax revenues and other state income, such as the preparation of the general state budget.
Industrial Colony
A textile factory located on the banks of rivers, utilizing hydraulic power as a driving force. It often offered housing for workers and buildings to meet their needs.
Free Trade (Lliurecanvisme)
An economic policy that removes barriers to international trade and advocates for the free movement of goods. Therefore, it opposes any discrimination against imports of foreign products or any obstruction against the exports of domestic products. Free trade favors the free flow of goods between countries. It disagrees with the existence of tariffs, customs duties, and product restrictions. It is in favor of free trade.
Protectionism
An economic policy that hinders the entry of foreign products into a country, especially those competing with national products. It advocates for the defense of domestic production by protecting its products from foreign competition. It contrasts with free trade.