Early 20th Century Spanish Politics and Social Unrest
1. The Catalan Political Landscape
In the early 20th century, Catalan interests were represented by the Lliga Regionalista, led by Prat de la Riba and Enric Prat de la Riba. Their objective was to achieve administrative autonomy while cooperating with the monarchy. However, an incident involving army officers offended by a cartoon in the satirical magazine Cu-Cut led to the Law of Jurisdictions (1906). This law placed crimes against the country and the army under military jurisdiction. In response, Catalan political forces formed Solidaritat Catalana, a coalition of anti-monarchist parties.
2. The Rise of Alejandro Lerroux
Not all Republicans joined Solidaritat Catalana. Alejandro Lerroux, a populist right-wing Republican, gained support among Barcelona’s migrant population with his anti-clerical and revolutionary rhetoric. An opponent of Catalan nationalism, Lerroux was elected deputy for Barcelona and formed the Radical Republican Party. He played a significant role in the events leading up to the Tragic Week.
3. The Labor Movement and Anarchism
Catalan unionism, largely apolitical and influenced by anarchism, embraced the general strike as a tool against capitalism. A 1902 general strike in Barcelona demonstrated the power of unions. In 1907, the Solidaridad Obrera was formed. The socialist UGT, a minority in Catalonia, was hesitant about general strikes. Anarchism’s influence allowed for general protest in Catalonia.
4. The Escalation of Militarism
The 1906 Jurisdiction Act and exclusive recruitment quotas fueled discontent. Until the 1912 Canalejas government, the wealthy could avoid military service through payment, leaving the lower classes to bear the brunt of war. The disaster at the Battle of Annual in 1921, with over 1,200 casualties, further inflamed tensions. Reservists from Barcelona and Madrid were sent as replacements, triggering protests and a general strike organized by Solidaridad Obrera. The government responded by arresting leaders and suppressing socialist media. News from Africa led to escalating violence in Barcelona, culminating in the Tragic Week (July 26-31). The aftermath saw numerous arrests and executions, including that of Ferrer i Guardia, fueling further protests.
5. Socio-Economic Crisis and the Rise of Unions
World War I intensified the economic crisis, leading to business closures, unemployment, and wage cuts. Employers resisted worker negotiations, resulting in union membership growth. The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution further emboldened labor organizations. The UGT and CNT led strikes and unrest, particularly in Andalusia and industrial centers. Catalan employers responded with lockouts and hired gunmen, while authorities implemented the “Law of Flight,” allowing them to shoot escaping detainees.
6. The Division of the Labor Movement and the Rise of Communism
The Russian Revolution also divided the labor movement. The Third International, founded in Moscow in 1919, aimed to unite labor organizations under communist principles. In 1920, a group of Young Socialists formed the Communist Party of Spain, aligning with Moscow’s directives.
7. The Decline of the Parliamentary Monarchy (1917-1923)
Ineffective governments, political contestation, social unrest, and the Moroccan disaster weakened the parliamentary monarchy. Attempts to revitalize the system through constitutional reform and regional autonomy failed. Popular protests and strikes escalated, fueled by the Russian Revolution’s example. While Republicans embraced these events, landowners and the bourgeoisie sought an authoritarian solution. The military coup led by Primo de Rivera, with the king’s approval, marked the end of the old system and the monarchy itself.