Social conflicts in the second
half of the 18th century
The social change |
The reformists of the time did not seek profound transformations of the social structure. The Bourbons, however, regarded them as dangerous. Conflicts were limited mainly to the urban centres of the region. The Pyrenees and the highlands of the province of Teruel were, with the exception of the tailors' strike in Albarracín, largely untouched by conflicts of this nature. |
Riots |
The most important of these occurred in 1766. Since 1760 there had been food shortages aggravated by the lifting of restrictions on the sale of wheat. In Zaragoza the accumulated tension exploded in the form of riots on 6th April 1766. The disturbances were put down with brutal severity, firstly by groups of "broqueleros" (citizens armed with antiquated weapons), and then by the cavalry and dragoons of the Spanish army. There were also riots in 1789 caused by the export of wheat to Navarre that was needed for consumption in Aragon, and in 1808, there was a minor disturbance directed against the Capitán General. |
Labour conflicts |
There were various conflicts: between office clerks and their employyers, a long drawn out tailors strike 1781-1803, and in Albarracín (Teruel) a similar strike in 1794. |
The day labourers |
The Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del Pais attempted to exert control over the agricultural day labourers, which, combined with the favourable economic conditions at that time, led to the first conflicts. In Spring 1785, wallsheets appeared in Saragossa protesting against the levy of troops, and in Barbastro day labourers demanded wage rises of 165.5% (they received 59.4%). Protests intensified and in 1787 and 1788 there were demonstrations by day labourers in Barbastro, Calatayud, Huesca and Saragossa. Paralysed by the War against the Convention from 1793-1795, the day labourers of Barbastro and Tarazona demanded and were given wage rises in 1795.
Land owners reacted by attempting to impose "sunrise to sunset" working hours. Another reaction was the levy of "idlers", who were automatically conscripted into the army. |
The French literature |
The French Revolution coincided with a period of bad harvests. The entry of revolutionary literature into Spain was slow, but between 1790 and 1795 pamphlets were found in La Almunia de Doña Godina, Borja, Calatayud and Saragossa. Discontent spread to the University of Zaragoza. The sending of the Walloon Guards to quell rioting in Huesca turned out to be a mistake, causing confrontations with the local populace. |
Anti-feudalist conflicts |
Finally, there were minor disturbances of an anti-feudalist nature which took place in various parts of the province. |
Extract from: Peiró, A. Atlas de historia de Aragón. Zaragoza, 1991. |
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