Draft Constitution of the Catalan Republic of 1928 facts for kids

The Draft Constitution of the Catalan Republic of 1928 is also known as the Constitution of Havana. It was written in Havana, Cuba. This document was one of many attempts to make Catalonia an independent country.

After World War I and before 1931, many things made people in Catalonia want their own country. New countries were forming in Europe. The United States and the Soviet Union said that people had a right to choose their own future. Spain had also lost its colonies like Cuba and the Philippines. At the same time, Catalonia's economy was growing stronger.

This led to the creation of the Constituent Assembly of Catalonia in Havana. This group wanted Catalonia to be separate from Spain. Francesc Macià was in charge of this assembly. They approved the Constitution of Havana on September 30, and October 1 and 2, 1928. This was their plan for a temporary constitution for a Catalan Republic.

Josep Conangla i Fontanilles wrote the Draft Constitution. He was a Catalan writer and poet living in Havana. He was also a main leader for Catalan independence in the Americas during the 20th century.

In 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was created in Spain. But the Catalan independence movement did not have a strong leader or a well-organized political party. So, the ideas in this constitution never came true. Instead, the Catalan leaders presented a different plan called the Draft Statute of Catalonia of 1932 to the Spanish Government. This plan was also rejected. Finally, the governments of Spain and Catalonia agreed on the Statute of Catalonia of 1932.

Even though it was never used, the Draft Constitution is a very important document. It shows the political ideas and dreams of the Catalan independence movement before Francisco Franco's rule.

What was in the Constitution?

The Draft Constitution of the Catalan Republic was a very detailed document. It had 36 main sections, called "titles," and many articles. These sections covered how a new Catalan Republic would work.

Here are some of the things it talked about:

• How Catalonia would be governed: It explained the political system.
• Language, Flag, and Coat of Arms: It set out the official symbols of Catalonia.
• Territory of Catalonia: It described the land that would be part of the new country.
• The Catalan People: It defined who would be a citizen.
• Rights and Duties: It listed the rights of individuals and groups, and what citizens had to do.
• Government Branches: It explained the different parts of the government, like the President and the Legislative Power (the group that makes laws).
• Local Government: It talked about how towns and districts would be run.
• Money and Property: It covered the finances and wealth of Catalonia.
• Defense: It included sections on the army and navy.
• Public Services: It discussed things like education, health, and public works.
• Economy: It had sections on farming, industry, and trade.

This constitution showed that the people who wrote it had a clear vision for an independent Catalonia. They thought about many details, from how laws would be made to how schools would be run.

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