Anti-Centralism and Catalan Nationalism in 19th Century Spain
Anti-Centralism: The Popular “Bullangues” Movements
The Bullangues were revolts of urban workers, artisans, and the petty bourgeoisie, particularly significant from 1830 to 1840. People organized in revolutionary juntas with a program that strongly criticized the Church, those in power, and the mechanization process. They also demanded a decentralized policy, further democratization of the state, and more power for local councils. In 1843, “The Jamancia”, a Bullanga, occurred and ended with much violence.
Federal Republicanism
Federal Republicanism, a doctrine developed during the six years of democracy, was strongly associated with the popular classes. Federalists wanted to distribute power among state, regional, and municipal bodies. The main exponent of this ideology was Francesc Pi i Maragall, who believed that Spain was pluralistic, consisting of different peoples in a situation of equality and coexistence agreements between them. His main statement was: “We must establish unity without destroying variety.”
Catalan Nationalism
In Catalonia, there was a deep-seated belief in the need for autonomy. Valenti Almirall, a promoter of protectionism and a protector of the Catalan language, shared his ideas for a long time with Admiral Valentin, a lawyer and Republican politician. He founded the first newspaper written in Catalan, called the “Catalan Journal.” All their ideas were included in the book “What Catalan Nationalism Is,” which shows his vision of Catalonia. In this work, he represents the interests of Catalonia over the interests of the class and understands the people of Spain as a partnership in the style of the old Crown of Aragon, a confederation, with a head of state but with self-government in the administration of the territory. He opposed the absorption of Catalonia within Spain.
Unifying Catalan Nationalism
His goal was to integrate all Catalan nationalist forces into a single bloc, and he achieved this through two congresses, one in 1880 and another in 1883.
- The first congress (1880) discussed:
- Protecting the Catalan language from the rest of Spain.
- Creating an academy of the Catalan language.
- Moving towards autonomy.
- Creating an institution to ensure Catalan nationalism, called the “Catalan Center,” which was formed in 1882.
- The second congress (1883) discussed:
- The membership of Catalans in national parties, referring to the Catalan Center.
- Organizing a public rally in the market of Barcelona to promote their ideas.
From here emerged the idea to produce a document called the “Memorial of Grievances” (1885), presented to Alfonso XII. This document denounced the oppression of Catalonia by Castile, including the suppression of the Catalan language, culture, and civil law. It called for coexistence among the peoples that made up the Spanish Nation.
The League of Catalonia
The more conservative members of the Catalan Center left in 1887 to found the association of the League of Catalonia, whose leader was Narciso Verdaguer. Other important figures included A. Guimerà , Domènech i Montaner, Enric Prat de la Riba, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The League achieved two notable things:
- It halted the law that abolished Catalan civil law.
- It drafted the “Message to the Regent” in 1888, which demanded full autonomy for Catalonia.