Tragic Week 1909: Barcelona's Uprising & Aftermath
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Tragic Week: Barcelona's 1909 Uprising
Background
Five years after the loss of its colonies in Cuba, Spain embarked on a new colonial campaign in Morocco. The war effort recruited young men of working age, many from already struggling families. On July 24, 1909, a revolutionary strike committee was formed, representing socialists, anarchists, and Lerrouxists. The lower classes were turning to violence against the Catalan language, Catalan bourgeoisie, and the Church, whom they blamed for the suffering of the workers.
The Uprising and its Suppression
What was intended to be a revolutionary strike turned into an urban uprising. That same night, the first religious buildings were set on fire. The bodies of religious figures were exhumed from their tombs and displayed in the streets. Streets were blocked off with barricades where workers gathered. The revolt also spread beyond Barcelona. The civil governor of Barcelona refused to deploy troops to suppress the movement, which led to his forced resignation. Once the city was pacified, workers began to return to their jobs. This was followed by a crackdown, reflecting the extent to which the bourgeoisie viewed the events as a "Tragic Week." Many people were executed, including Francisco Ferrer Guardia, a teacher linked to anarchists and Lerrouxists. He used an inheritance to found an institution called the Modern School, which printed anarchist propaganda. Joan Maragall sought to stop this repression, while Prat de la Riba was committed to it.
Consequences
The execution of Ferrer Guardia sparked a wave of protests that damaged Spain's international prestige and fueled a campaign known as "Maura No!" This led to the downfall of the Conservative government and the rise of the Liberals. The strong social repression interrupted the growth of the CNT, radicalizing the labor movement. Lerrouxism re-emerged with greater force and achieved significant electoral success. Prat de la Riba's involvement in the repression led to a campaign against him.