Catalonia's Turbulent Era: Anarchism to Primo de Rivera

Anarchism in Catalonia

Anarchism was the ideology with the most significant influence among Catalan workers. This ideology also received strong support in Andalusia, particularly from agricultural laborers. In the late 19th century, anarchism in Catalonia was broadly divided into two trends:

• One trend focused on trade union action (syndicalism), with unions lobbying the government to achieve improvements for workers.
• The other trend involved 'propaganda by the deed,' which included acts of terrorism practiced against the bourgeoisie, the Church (l'Església), and the State (l'Estat).

Notable Anarchist Attacks

During the late 19th century, numerous attacks were carried out by anarchists, many of them in Barcelona. Each terrorist act was typically followed by severe state repression. Significant incidents include:

• Paulí Pallàs (1893): Launched two bombs against General Martínez Campos, then Captain General of Catalonia, in an act targeting the State.
• Santiago Salvador (1893): Threw two bombs into the Liceu Opera House in Barcelona during a performance, an attack aimed at the bourgeoisie.
• Corpus Christi Procession Bombing (1896): An unknown individual detonated a bomb during the Corpus Christi procession in Barcelona, an attack directed against the Church.

The Disaster of 1898

In the Spanish-American War, the Spanish military was defeated by the United States in Cuba and the Philippines. In this manner, Spain lost what remained of its colonial empire, which dated back to the 16th century. The problems in Cuba had deep roots; Cubans were angered by the Spanish government's refusal to allow free trade, forcing them to buy Spanish goods. The war was harsh, and Spanish naval fleets were destroyed in Cavite (Philippines) and Santiago de Cuba. In July 1898, the Spanish government surrendered. Shortly thereafter, the Treaty of Paris was signed. As a result, Puerto Rico and the Philippines became U.S. territories, and Cuba gained nominal independence under U.S. influence.

Tragic Week of 1909

In Barcelona, on July 26, 1909, a general strike called to protest the war in Morocco escalated into a widespread revolt known as the Tragic Week (la Setmana Tràgica). The army intervened to quell the rebellion. Subsequently, the government harshly punished Republicans, anarchists, socialists, and left-wing Catalan nationalists (nacionalistes d'esquerres).

The Crises of 1917

In 1917, a general strike called by the major trade unions, the UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores) and the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo), paralyzed the country and highlighted deep social and political tensions.

Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923-1930)

From 1923 to 1930, General Miguel Primo de Rivera established a military dictatorship, which was accepted by King Alfonso XIII. On September 13, 1923, Primo de Rivera, then Captain General of Catalonia, staged a coup d'état against the Spanish government. The prime minister resigned, and Primo de Rivera established a military directory. His regime received support from conservative sectors and some regionalist parties, such as the Lliga Regionalista, at least initially. He also created a single official party called the Patriotic Union (Unión Patriótica).

Repression in Catalonia

The dictatorship enacted strong repressive measures against Catalan identity and culture. These included:

• Banning the public display of the Catalan flag (la Senyera).
• Prohibiting the use of the Catalan language in public administration and official life.
• Banning the teaching of Catalan in schools.
• Prohibiting the Sardana, the traditional Catalan dance, in public.
• Closing or restricting Catalan cultural organizations, such as the Orfeó Català (a prominent choir and cultural institution).