The Tragic Week of 1909: Colonialism, Revolt, and Catalan Identity
The Tragic Week of 1909
The colonial policy and the War in Morocco aimed to restore the army’s prestige after the 1898 disaster and serve economic interests: mining, public works, and new markets. It also sought to align with other great powers in Africa. Spain’s involvement in Morocco stemmed from two treaties.
The Algeciras Conference (1906) established a Franco-Spanish protectorate in Morocco. The Hispano Treaty (1912) granted Spain a strip in northern Morocco (the Rif) and an enclave on the Atlantic coast (Ifni and Rio de Oro). The Spanish occupation led to war with Berber tribes in 1909, culminating in the defeat at Barranco del Lobo.
Maura’s government increased troops, calling up reservists, including Catalans who had already served and many of whom were married with children.
The Tragic Week in Barcelona
Popular mobilization against the war began at the port of Barcelona (July 18), as troops boarded. The movement had an anti-militarist and anti-clerical component. On July 24, a strike committee was formed. Republicans, socialists, and anarchists called a general strike. However, the initiative evolved into a spontaneous popular revolt against the Army and Church, with no clear goals from the strike committee leaders.
The Tragic Week in Barcelona
For one week (July 26 – August 2), there were confrontations with the forces of order, including the burning of churches. On August 2, 1909, the army suppressed the revolt. The subsequent repression was harsh, especially against anarchists. Hundreds were detained, 216 faced courts-martial (+1700 people), and 17 were sentenced to death (5 executed), including Francisco Ferrer Guardia.
The Political Consequences of the Tragic Week
- Criticism of Maura’s repression led to the campaign: “Maura, no!” Alfonso XIII dissolved the Cortes, and the Liberals took power.
- Disparagement of political parties:
- Left-wing parties: Workers felt unsupported and opted for apolitical syndicalism.
- Radical Party (A. Lerroux): Shifted towards conservatism and lost popular support.
- Regionalist League: Supported repression and lost the support of Catalan progressives.
The Commonwealth of Catalonia
The Training Process
The Barcelona Diputación in 1911, with the support of others, proposed uniting the powers of the four Catalan provinces. The Spanish government authorized the Commonwealth in 1914 under the conservative government of Dato.
6/April/1914: The Commonwealth of Catalonia (MANCOMUNIDAD) was established.
It was composed of:
- A President: Enrique Prat de la Riba (1914-1917), Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1917-1923), Alphonse Hall (1923-1925)
- An Assembly: (96 deputies) 36 from Barcelona, 20 from each remaining province.
- A Permanent Council: (8 members, 2 per province) responsible for Roads and ports, Finance, Agriculture, Culture, etc.
It only had the functions and budget of the provincial entities and was not a regional government.
The Work of the Commonwealth
Two types of actions:
- Create an infrastructure of public services and administrative:
- Improvement of the road network.
- Improvement of the postal system and telephone.
- Action plan to modernize agricultural production and increase productivity, including the creation of technical agricultural schools and model farms.
- Boost the language and culture, including the unification of spelling by Pompeu Fabra and support for cultural institutions like the Catalan Studies Institute and the Library of Catalonia.
- Promotion and protection of cultural heritage.
- Impulse to the establishment of pedagogical renewal, including the School Promotion Industrial School, School Work, and School of Local Administration.