Tragic Week of Barcelona: 1909 Letter & Analysis
Charter
The text is a primary source, a private letter of political nature, dated July 31, 1909. This letter explains the general strike in Catalonia caused by the deployment of reservists. After the strike began, churches were burned. Two days later, barricades appeared, and civilians were fired upon, leading to the arrival of troops who occupied the central districts and then the suburbs. However, Radical Party supporters proclaimed the Republic. Essayist José Pijoan wrote this letter to Catalan poet Juan Maragall.
This letter between intellectuals José Pijoan and Juan Maragall, both conservative Catalan nationalists, reveals their disapproval of the situation, viewing it as disorder. The situation in Melilla stemmed from an attempt to protect railway construction linking mines and ensuring resource exploitation. Military campaigns were conducted to control the territory and its mineral wealth. As the government increased troop deployment, strikes and blockades erupted due to public discontent over the deployment of troops and reservists, while the bourgeoisie remained unaffected. These events led to the burning of churches, an act seemingly welcomed by the people, who, according to the text, peacefully watched the Piarists’ fire. The next day, barricades appeared, and civilians were fired upon, leading to the arrival of troops who occupied the city center and then the periphery. This strike resulted in a spontaneous, unplanned uprising known as the Tragic Week in Barcelona. Radical parties, like Lerroux’s followers, proclaimed the Republic. During the strike, the army fired on civilians and vice versa; local troops refused to fire on the people, necessitating the deployment of troops from Zaragoza and Valencia. Had these external troops not arrived, the local forces might not have controlled the Republican movement, and the Republic might have been established. This clash resulted in 75 deaths, including 3 military personnel, and 2,000 arrests. José Pijoan criticized the revolt’s spontaneity and lack of direction, viewing it as a riot triggered by the deployment of reservists from the port of Barcelona to the war in Morocco. While there, aristocratic ladies handed out medals and scapulars, despite knowing the labor movement’s opposition to religion. It later became clear that only the poor, lacking the 6,000 reales to avoid service, were deployed. Moreover, upon boarding, they heard news of numerous deaths in the Moroccan war. The church was burned because it represented the most accessible power to the people, unlike the political and military establishments. It was also the visible face of what they hated, resenting the priests’ teachings against the labor movement in schools.
In 1902, Alfonso XIII’s reign began, marked by regenerationist governments aiming to reform the system. The main intention was to end electoral rigging and corruption. Maura led the Conservative government from 1907-1909, followed by Canalejas’ Liberal government. During Maura’s tenure, conflicts like the Moroccan War arose, undermining reform efforts. After the 1898 crisis, Spain focused on North Africa, attempting to engage in international relations and end its isolation. Morocco became the focal point of foreign policy in the early 20th century. Following international negotiations, France and Spain, with British support, established spheres of influence in Morocco, marginalizing Germany. Spain controlled the Rif area, a troubled territory inhabited by Berbers who resisted foreign presence. To subdue the territory and secure mining and railroad construction, the government increased troops and military campaigns. In 1909, the government mobilized reservists in Catalonia, sparking protests against the Moroccan War and the system allowing the wealthy to avoid service. Opposition parties initiated a general strike, intensified by the deaths of soldiers at the Battle of Gurugú and the Barranco del Lobo ambush. This strike led to the spontaneous uprising known as the Tragic Week in Barcelona, resulting in church burnings and military reinforcements. Alfonso XIII appointed the Liberals under Canalejas to form a government, fearing damage to the monarchy’s prestige. Canalejas implemented reforms, notably the separation of church and state. Alfonso XIII’s reign saw a rise in the labor movement due to class inequalities, emphasized by Republicans, anarchists, socialists, and Basque and Catalan nationalists. Other major conflicts included World War I, which benefited Spain economically due to its neutrality, but harmed workers as product prices rose without corresponding wage increases. The 1917 crisis arose from military discontent over the preferential treatment of soldiers in Africa and officer reductions, leading to the creation of Juntas. This was accompanied by a general strike called by the UGT and CNT to end the regime and proclaim a democratic republic. These unions mobilized strikes, such as in Barcelona. In 1921, France resumed its colonial policy in Morocco, threatening the Spanish zone, forcing a troop withdrawal to Melilla. After significant casualties, Berenguer recovered the lost territory. The Annual disaster led to the appointment of the Picasso Committee, led by Prieto, to investigate military responsibility. Finally, Primo de Rivera led a military coup in 1923, establishing a military dictatorship due to the constitutional system’s deep crisis. The dictatorship, inspired by regenerationist authoritarian regimes in interwar Europe, ended in 1930, leading to the end of Alfonso XIII’s monarchy and the subsequent proclamation of the Second Republic.
The labor movement was very active during Alfonso XIII’s reign, consistently highlighting their inferior status, exemplified by the deployment of reformists who lacked the funds to avoid war. This led to the Tragic Week in Barcelona. During World War I, price increases did not translate to wage increases for workers, benefiting only the wealthy. Furthermore, the deployment of a family’s breadwinner to war could ruin the family economically. Aristocratic ladies offered scapulars instead of providing practical support to help families survive and feed themselves.