The Tram Boycott in Barcelona
The Franco regime did not have enough support within Catalonia, specifically those residing in Barcelona due to the tram boycott in March. There was public support in the protest against Barcelona’s trams suffering price rises, while Madrid did not have any kind of price rise (Dowling 59). The people protested against “the regime’s discrimination against Barcelona, against its commerce, language and culture” (Dowling 60). After much debate, the price rises were repealed. This was a small victory economically for Barcelona and Catalonia; it was a step towards future nationalistic events and fighting against the Franco regime. The Catalan people were determined to fight against the injustice of the regime, even if it had consequences. The protest was successful, but it was only the beginning of Catalonia’s journey for independence. The primary motivation for the protest was economic gain, as the majority of the supporters were not in favor of Catalonia becoming independent. A frequent theme within Catalonia and independence is the obstacle of division within the nation and how financial gain is of utmost priority. As such, the protest appears to have a lesser impact when analyzed. Nationalism in Catalonia is fierce and strong, but some Catalan people are afraid of it becoming reality.
Text source:
“2 Repression, 1939-1955.” Catalonia since the Spanish Civil War
Reconstructing the Nation, by Andrew Dowling, Sussex Academic
Press, 2014, p. 59-60.
Image source:
“1951: Barcelona General Strike.” Libcom.org, 2008,