Capitalist modernization and poverty in Mendoza, Argentina. Agroindustrial development and working class life conditions, 1890-1918

Abstract

During the last decade of the XIX century and the first two decades of the XX, the argentine province of Mendoza underwent substantial territorial, economical and society changes due to the advance of the capitalism, that formed one of the first regional economy of the country: the viticulture industry. The capitalist development produced an unknown economic expansion in which all the indicators increased in number: extent of the agrarian cultivation, wine vault installment, raise of the capacity of wine elaboration, technological improvement. Pertaining to society land subdivision, enterprise class arising and enlargement of the middle class. However, the majority of the popular sectors, enlarged by the overseas immigration, suffered life conditions characterized by low incomes which were maintained in face values during the studied period, and home and health problems that derived in the propagation of serious contagious disease and high children death rate. This article shows the contrast between a powerful productive forces development and the miserable conditions of population life.

Keywords

• Capitalismo
• Vitivinicultura
• Trabajadores
• Pobreza