The Rise of Catalan Nationalism: A Historical Overview
Early Stirrings of Federalism
The concept of a decentralized system gained traction amidst federal policy discussions in the 1840s, with Abdó Terradas as an early proponent. Federalism gained significant momentum in 1868 with the formation of the Federal Democratic Republican Party, led by Pi i Maragall and Valentí Almirall. This party aimed to establish a Federal Republic across Spain, granting regions autonomy and their own laws. A split occurred in 1882 when Almirall, focused solely on Catalonia, founded the Catalan Center.
The Catalan Center and the Memorial of Grievances
Catalan political organization began in 1882 with the founding of the left-leaning Catalan Center, where Almirall served as vice president. In 1885, the Center presented the Memorial of Grievances to King Alfonso XII, advocating for protectionist policies for Catalonia.
The League of Catalonia and the Catalanist Union
In 1887, more conservative members of the Catalan Center formed the right-wing League of Catalonia. This party attracted members of the Catalan School, a Catalanist student group including Francesc Cambó and Prat de la Riba. In 1891, the League founded the Catalanist Union to coordinate regional Catalan nationalist groups. This right-wing party, including Prat de la Riba, drafted the Bases de Manresa in 1892, an initial draft for Catalan autonomy.
The Regionalist League and the Rise of the Bourgeoisie
Following the loss of Spanish colonies in 1898 and economic hardships, the Catalan bourgeoisie formed the conservative Regionalist Union in 1899. Simultaneously, members of the Catalanist Union, including Enric Prat de la Riba, formed the National Center for Catalan. These two parties merged in 1901 to create the Regionalist League, a dominant right-wing party led by Prat de la Riba and later Cambó. The League strongly advocated for autonomy and protectionism, leading significant political actions such as the Commonwealth of Catalonia (1914), the Parliamentary Assembly (1917), and the Autonomy Campaign (1919).
Catalan Solidarity and the Tragic Week
In 1906, Catalan Solidarity, an electoral coalition of all Catalan parties (excluding Lerrouxists), formed in response to the Law of Jurisdictions. This law placed offenses against Spain under military jurisdiction. Internal disagreements, particularly during the Tragic Week (1909), led to the coalition’s dissolution.
The Rise of Republicanism and the Pact of Sant Gervasi
Also in 1906, former members of the Regionalist League formed the left-leaning Nationalist Republican Center. The dissolution of Catalan Solidarity and the Tragic Week fostered collaboration among left-wing Republicans, leading to the creation of the Federal Nationalist Republican Union (UFNR) in 1910. In 1914, the UFNR and Alejandro Lerroux’s Radical Republican Party formed the Pact of Sant Gervasi to challenge the League. This pact, combining pro- and anti-Catalan sentiments, proved disastrous, leading to a League victory.
The Bloc Autonomist Republican and the Catalan Republican Party
Discontent with the pact led some UFNR members to form the left-leaning, Catalan nationalist Bloc Autonomist Republican in 1915, leading to the UFNR’s dissolution the following year. In 1917, the Bloc and former UFNR members formed the left-leaning Catalan Republican Party, with Lluís Companys as a prominent member.
Francesc Macià and the Rise of Independence
In 1919, Francesc Macià founded the Nationalist Democratic Federation, followed by Estat Català in 1922, marking the emergence of pro-independence movements.
Further Developments and the Formation of ERC
In 1922, members of the League formed the centrist Acció Catalana. In 1923, the Socialist Union of Catalonia (USC) was founded. In March 1931, the Catalan Republican Party, Estat Català, and L’Opinió merged to form Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), led by Macià and later Companys. Initially not pro-independence, ERC led the Catalan government after the restoration of the Generalitat in 1931.
Political Realignments in the Second Republic
In 1931, Acció Catalana Republicana (formed by members of Acció Catalana and Acció Republicana de Catalunya) and the moderate nationalist Democratic Union of Catalonia emerged. In 1933, the Regionalist League became the Catalan League, led by Cambó. By 1933, the major Catalan parties were the left-wing USC and ERC, the centrist Acció Catalana Republicana and Democratic Union of Catalonia, and the right-wing Catalan League.