Tragic Week: Deaths, Destruction, and Political Fallout
The Tragic Week: Deaths, Destruction, and Political Fallout
Implications:
The events resulted in significant deaths, injuries, and destruction.
- Deaths: 3 soldiers and 75 civilians (including anarchists and religious figures)
- Destruction: 40 buildings, primarily churches, monasteries, libraries, and some bourgeois houses and colleges, were damaged or destroyed.
- Suppression: The suppression occurred during detention. 1700 people were arrested, with some facing trial. Others were imprisoned, and 5 were sentenced to death.
Francisco Ferrer Guardia and Anarchism
Francisco Ferrer Guardia, a researcher and teacher, was an anarchist. He founded a modern school that challenged traditional educational norms. Many anarchists and famous figures emerged from this school, including Mateo Morral and A. Pallàs, who were terrorists. Ferrer Guardia advocated for violence.
In the same year, Antonio Maura stated that Ferrer Guardia did not seem like a bad person and expressed his opposition to the death penalty. However, the army insisted on the death penalty, as the military held significant power in the trial.
Political Policies and Resignations
Resignation of Antonio Maura: Maura resigned due to the excessive death sentence for Ferrer Guardia. He had stated he would resign if he could not commute the sentence and ultimately could not change it.
His resignation was a major blow to the Conservative Party. He was succeeded by José Canalejas, who was assassinated in 1912 by an anarchist in honor of Ferrer Guardia. This assassination occurred during a period of political instability, prompting a need for reorganization.
The Rise of Anarchist Organizations
Anarchists founded the National Confederation of Workers (CNT), a union following anarcho-syndicalist principles. The CNT was founded around 1910-1911. The FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation) was established later. The CNT sought to address various issues and, although initially illegal, gained significant importance in the future.
Dissolution of Catalan Solidarity
The Catalan Solidarity, a coalition including:
- Marxists
- Senior Republicans
- Small Fields
- Federalists
Joined forces to win elections. They chose mayors due to their popularity in Catalonia. However, disagreements arose when the army intervened, leading to the dissolution of the league. This led to the formation of Solidaridad Obrera (a left-leaning Catalan movement).
Foreign Policy: Morocco
The Situation in Morocco:
Morocco was occupied by Spanish soldiers. The northern region of Morocco, specifically the Rif area, was a poor region with a tribal population structure. The population was divided into tribes, each with its own customs and leaders. Spanish occupation was scattered, leading to frequent guerrilla actions and peripheral assaults. One notable incident was the Barranco del Lobo, where approximately 20 people died.