Rise of the Second Spanish Republic and Catalan Autonomy

The 1919 Strike and the Rise of Dictatorship

The most significant conflict of the era was the La Canadenca strike (1919), which paralyzed industry and essential services. In response, the government and employers adopted hardened attitudes toward workers, leading to increased violence. Employers favored free trade unions and employed armed groups, known as gunmen (pistoleros), to terrorize strikers. This period saw the suppression of the Commonwealth of Catalonia and all public expressions of Catalan identity, alongside heavy repression of university professors.

The military dictatorship initially benefited from a favorable international economic situation and the conclusion of the conflict in Morocco. However, following the 1929 economic crisis, opposition to the dictatorship grew. General Berenguer eventually attempted to hold elections, but the movement to abolish the monarchy in favor of a republic gained unstoppable momentum.

Transition from Monarchy to Republic

Elections were called following the collapse of the dictatorship. The municipal elections, held on April 12, 1931, became a referendum between the monarchy and the republican movement. The opposition—comprising Republicans, Socialists, and the nationalist left—formed a coalition under the Pact of San Sebastian, while monarchist parties remained divided.

The republican-socialist coalition triumphed in major cities and industrial regions. Consequently, on April 14, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. This followed the unified objective established in 1930 to eliminate the monarchy.

Achievements of the Provisional Government

A provisional government was formed, including Republicans, Socialists, and Catalan nationalists. Their key initiatives included:

• Amnesty: Absolute freedom and pardons for political parties and unions.
• Labor Reform: Implementation of mixed juries in 1931 to resolve labor disputes through equal representation of employers and workers.
• Catalan Autonomy: The establishment of a provisional Generalitat of Catalonia.
• Women's Suffrage: The historic decision in 1931 to grant women the right to vote.

Republican Catalonia and the Statute of Autonomy

In 1931, the Lliga Regionalista lost its dominance to the Republican Left (ERC). Francesc Macià proclaimed a Catalan Republic and assumed national sovereignty. The new interim government adopted the name Generalitat and began drafting a statute of autonomy.

Following the meeting at Núria to draft the document, the Statute of 1932 was established. This statute defined the autonomous institutions of Catalonia, including the Parliament and the Executive Council.