The Tragic Week and the Catalan Commonwealth (1909-1925)
The Tragic Week of Barcelona (1909)
The Moroccan Conflicts
From 1900, Spain consolidated its presence in North Africa. The Algeciras Conference (1906) and the Franco-Spanish Treaty (1912) established a Franco-Spanish protectorate in Morocco. Spain was tasked with administering and pacifying the Rif region (a mountainous area in the north). Spanish interests lay in economic benefits and maintaining a standing army, weakened after the Cuban War. In 1909, Spanish troops suffered a significant defeat at Barranco del Lobo in the Rif, leading to heavy casualties. The subsequent decision to send reservists (many married) from Barcelona to the Rif sparked widespread protests.
The People Mobilize and the Consequences
The mobilization against the war and the perceived unjust conscription system began in Barcelona on July 18th, triggering a general strike. The popular uprising, lasting a week, expanded beyond its initial objective and developed strong anti-militarist and anti-clerical sentiments. Clashes with police erupted, and over 80 religious centers were burned. The authorities declared a state of war and sent reinforcements to suppress the demonstrations. The government’s repression was harsh. Courts-martial were held, affecting 1,700 people, and 216 were convicted. Seventeen death sentences were issued, including one for Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, an anarchist educator who, despite being advised to stay away, returned to Barcelona and was found guilty.
The government’s actions led to protests that toppled the Conservative government of Maura. In Catalonia, the Solidaritat Catalana coalition disintegrated, and the Regionalist League suffered a major electoral setback in 1910, accused of supporting the crackdown.
The Commonwealth of Catalonia (1914-1925)
Definition
An association of municipalities and provinces created to address common services and problems. It was the most significant Catalan administrative body since 1714 and a key step towards Catalan self-government, culminating in the creation of the Generalitat (1931).
Formation Process
The formation was long and complex. Its precedents lie in the actions of the Catalan provincial councils, which gradually assumed greater responsibilities. Politicians recognized that Catalonia’s regeneration required a program to improve infrastructure and modernize the education system. This became the program of the Barcelona Provincial Council in 1907, when Enric Prat de la Riba was elected its president. To promote Catalan culture, the Institute of Catalan Studies and the Library of Catalonia were created, and in 1913, the Council of Pedagogical Research was established.
In 1911, the Barcelona Provincial Council, along with other councils, proposed uniting the four Catalan provinces. Prime Minister Canalejas pledged to support a Commonwealth project, which was approved by the lower house in 1912. However, the Liberal Party was divided, and the Conservative Party opposed it. After Canalejas’s assassination, the Senate blocked the bill. In 1913, the new Conservative government issued a decree authorizing provinces to unite solely for administrative purposes.
Constitution of the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth was founded on April 6, 1914. Enric Prat de la Riba was its president and appointed a council formed by an assembly of eight members. The Commonwealth’s budget was limited. The Regionalist League had a significant presence. The agency had three presidents: Prat de la Riba until his death in 1917, Josep Puig i Cadafalch until 1923, and Alfons Sala until 1925.
The Work of the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth focused on two main areas: creating administrative infrastructure and basic public services to stimulate economic development, and promoting Catalan language and culture through educational and cultural projects.
Regarding economic development, the Commonwealth invested heavily in improving the road network and postal and telephone systems. It also launched a plan to modernize agriculture, aiming to increase production and productivity.
In culture and education, it initiated a project focused on reaffirming Catalan language and culture. This included the creation of the Popular Library (1918), Experimental Schools (1918), and the Standardization Studies (1919). The Institute of Catalan Studies began work to standardize Catalan spelling, a task entrusted to Pompeu Fabra, culminating years later with the Dictionary of the Catalan Language (1932).