Social and Political Opposition in Restoration Spain
Opposition to the Cánovas System (1875–1902)
The opposition to the established political system emerged from movements outside the official electoral framework. These groups sought to improve the lives of the working class and challenge the policies of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo.
The Rise of Anarchism and Marxism
The world of labor lived outside the electoral system, seeking to improve the lives of workers. Anarchist ideas were introduced by Fanelli, a follower of Bakunin. Marxism was introduced later by figures like Paul Lafargue. Although these ideas gained traction, General Serrano’s government prohibited political associations in 1874 (or 1877/1879, the date ’87’ seems misplaced or refers to a later law).
With the arrival of Liberals to power in 1881, political parties were recognized. Anarchism spread across Spain, particularly among Andalusian peasants and Catalan workers. It was initially a peaceful movement that sought to overthrow the existing political system through a general strike led by unions (like the precursors to the **CNT**), but some groups resorted to violence through attacks on society and authorities. Cánovas del Castillo was assassinated in 1897, succeeded by Francisco Silvela.
The Socialist Movement (PSOE and UGT)
The Socialist movement succeeded in Madrid among printers. The **Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE)** was founded in 1879 by **Pablo Iglesias**. Years later, the **Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT)** was founded to support socialist decisions.
In 1889, the Second International was founded, attended by top representatives from the PSOE. The Marxist current advocated for:
- Abolition of social classes.
- Transformation of private property.
- Power to social workers.
In 1890, May 1st was established as a day of labor. The PSOE organized demonstrations in Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao to demand the eight-hour day. The dismissal of five miners in Bilbao triggered a general strike, highlighting the harsh working conditions:
- 13-hour days.
- Low wages.
- Compulsory sleeping in company barracks (the Truck System).
The general strike in Bilbao, declared to support the retrenched miners, achieved a reduction of the workday to 10 hours and the end of the company barracks and the Truck System.
The Church and Labor Unions
The Church was not immune to the worker problem. The Jesuit **Antonio Vicent** (circa 1879) established Catholic circles, intending to improve the lives of workers by creating alternatives to taverns.
Pope Leo XIII published the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891), in which the Church formally addressed the worker question. However, the importance of Catholic unions remained low because they supported dialogue with employers rather than the confrontational measures advocated by secular labor unions.
Birth of Peripheral Nationalisms
Catalan Nationalism
Catalan nationalism was initiated by the literary and cultural movement known as the **Renaixença** (Rebirth), which promoted the Catalan language. This culminated in the *Jocs Florals* (Floral Games), contests that rewarded the best poetic works.
Early Catalan political activism was led by Federal Republicans like **Valentí Almirall**, who sought political autonomy for Catalonia. The most active political force was the **Lliga Regionalista** (led by figures like Enric Prat de la Riba), which appealed primarily to the Catalan middle and upper classes and became very important in the late 19th century.
Basque Nationalism
Two events promoted the appearance of Basque nationalism:
- Industrialization: The industrialization of the Basque Country favored the arrival of migrants from the rest of the peninsula, leading to a differentiation of the traditional Basque people from the new urban form.
- Abolition of the Fueros: The abolition of Basque privileges (*fueros*) following the last Carlist War (1876).
This nationalism was supported by the petty and rural bourgeoisie, but initially opposed by the industrial bourgeoisie, who resisted the old ‘Spanishization’ laws. **Sabino Arana**, a conservative and radical figure with Carlist roots, founded the Basque Nationalist Party (**PNV**). His movement initially had little support but began to increase as it moved toward moderation.
Galician Regionalism
Galician Regionalism, like Catalanism, had roots in Romanticism, giving rise to the **Rexurdimento** (Resurgence) cultural movement. **Manuel Murguía**, husband of Rosalía de Castro, founded the *Asociación Regionalista Gallega* (Galician Regional Association), marking the beginning of the Galician political movement.