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Michael Chavez

Emily Litle

Eng.121.001

1 Nov. 2017

Catalonia Independence from Spain

Catalonia has been in the news lately in this days and have caused huge controversy

in society. Catalonia is located in northeastern Spain and its consider one of the wealthiest

regions of Spain. This region of Spain has its own language, flag, history, and culture. As

any other country Catalonia has their own official languages which are Catalan, Occitan,

and Spanish. Their flag has almost the same colors as the Spain one but the Catalonian flag

has five yellow stripes and 4 red stripes. It also contains a blue triangle located on the left

side with a white star in it. Catalans had banned bullfighting for being cruel and barbaric

and they also dont dance flamenco like they do in other parts of Spain. Barcelona is the

capital of Catalonia which there is an elite soccer team that plays in the Spanish League (La

Liga Santander) called FC Barcelona. There are some professional soccer players that are

born in Catalonia and they play for Spain National team.

This topic is important because is something that is going on right now that the state

of Catalonia wants to gain independence from Spain. Catalonia have the sources to become

an independent country because its one of the wealthiest states from Spain and an easily

maintain their economic going. I chose this sources because it the authors of these sources

are experts on the history of Catalonia. This means that I can rely on these sources because

they are published on different news articles that expertise in the government of Catalonia.

The sources I chose helped me back up my argument. There are some factors that will
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affected Spain and some factors will be beneficial for Catalonia. If Catalonia gains it

independence and become its own country it will affect Spain.

Alexander, Harret, Badcock, James, Why does Catalonia want independence from

Spain? The Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/does-catalonia-want-

independence-spain/, 10 Oct. 2017

Catalonia was an independent region with its own language, laws, and culture.

Catalonia became part of Spain due to the fact that the queen and kings trying to form a

dynasty by leaving their son conquer all territories including Catalonia. This kings tried to

impose the Spanish language and the Spanish laws which it did failed. When that attempt

failed the national Catalan government started to form. Catalonia is one of the wealthiest

state of Spain thats why this is an issue for them to become an independent country. In

September 2017, not so long ago, Catalans went on a strike to vote for their independence

taking with them Catalonian authorities. Catalonian authorities used violence against

Spanish Security inside the polling stations. According to James Badcock and Harret

Alexander 2.26 million votes had been counted with 90 percent in favor of independence.

Catalonia has been for a long time the region that has been the most successful in the

trading industry. Not only because they trade goods and textile but because of finances,

services, and high tech companies. If Catalonia becomes its own country it will cost Spain

almost 20 percent of its economic output.

James Badcock and Harret Alexander have in common the knowledge in politics,

James Badcock its an expert in Catalonians government. I decided to choose this source

as a helpful source for my paper because the information given in the articles comes from

two people that have the knowledge on politics and on what it is going on today. \
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Why would I use a source that it is written from someone that doesnt know anything on

Catalonians government? When I clicked on James Badcock name many articles about

Catalonian independence appear, that tells me he knows what hes talking about. I also

search other articles he has publish and he has publish in many other Medias. Different

websites or companies let him publish because he is an expert on this specific topic Im

writing about.

Fitzpatrick, Richard, What lies ahead for Barca in an independent Catalonia? Irish

Times News, https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/what-lies-ahead-for-bar%C3%A7a-

in-an-independent-catalonia-1.3252605, 12 Oct. 2017

This article is written by the author Miguel Delaney, in which he is expertise in

publishing about sports. Fc Barcelona is one of the most successful teams in La Liga the

Spanish league. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, which this has been a factor in the

Catalonia independency. Right now Fc Barcelona features is between the sword and the

wall due to the secession on getting their independence. Javier Tebas is the president of the

Spanish league that had warned Fc Barcelona to leave the league. This means FC Barcelona

will be place in another soccer league. This article uses an interview from former President

of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Minguella states, In the almost 70 years that Ive been a

socio [member] of Barcelona, Ive never witnessed a situation like this being tabled. Its

never happened (Minguella). This has become a chaos when it comes to play because

players from the FC Barcelona opponent team stitched the Spain flag in the jersey to show

solidarity for Spains nationalism. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is the main rivalry of La

Liga called El Clasico, those are the top two teams that are always on the first positions

of the league. Victor Font, a potential presidential candidate at Barcelona explains how El
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Clasico is a big business for them. About 70 percent of the value of La Liga is Barcelona-

Real Madrid (Victor Font).

In my own opinion I say this source is going to help me in my paper because it talks

about how the secession of FC Barcelona will affect the country of Spain. I also believe

that Richard Fitzpatrick points out some good factors that will affect Spain. I decided to use

this sources because he uses interviews as something to back up his information, for

example, the interview of the President of the club team. Richard Fitzpatrick publishes in

different types of Medias meaning that he has the knowledge on sports which in this case

he focuses more in soccer.

How could Catalonia line up? And what would Spains national team look like?

Sky Sports, http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11064454/how-could-

catalonia-line-up-and-what-would-spains-national-team-look-like, 10 Feb. 2017

The issue on whether Catalonia should gain its independence and become its own

country has affected Spains national team. This means there are some players in Spains

national team that are born in the state of Catalonia. Due to this fact Catalonia has what it

takes to build a starting eleven for their national team. This past weekend, during the FC

Barcelona-Las Palmas, more than 750 people were injured in clashes between police and

voters trying to vote in the referendum. Gerard Pique has been related in this issue because

he says he will leave Spains national team if his support for Catalans independence

become a problem. Gerard also plays as center back in FC Barcelona alongside Jordi Alba

another Spanish player that is born in Catalonia. There are two more players that played for

Barcelona that are also from Catalonia and they are Marc Bartra and Sergio Busquets. This

articles shows how the Catalonians starting eleven would line up. Kiko Castilla is the

former goalkeeper of Real Madrid. The defensive line up would be Vidal, Pique, Bartra,
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and Alba. In the attacking side of the Catalonian national team it would have Busquets,

Fabregas, Xavi, Deulofeu, Gerard, and Tello.

I decided to choose this source because it shows how this independence issue will

affect Spains national team. I do agree with the points this articles gives because those

players are important in the national team and the thing that they are willing to leave it will

affect Spains national team. Not only had I chosen this source because of what it talks but

because I believe its a helpful source because it comes from Sky Sports. Sky Sports its a

web that expertise only in sports. It is like Fox Sports that talk and analyses games and

things that have to deal with soccer. In this case Sky Sports is informing about what it is

happening with Catalonia and they analyze the probability of a lineup for Catalonians

national team. In other words they related sports to what it is happening now a days which

it make sense and I believe is reliable to hear things from someone that knows sports and its

related to my topic.
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Works Cited

Alexander, Harret, Badcock, James, Why does Catalonia want independence from Spain?

The Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/does-catalonia-want-independence-

spain/, 10 Oct. 2017

Fitzpatrick, Richard, What lies ahead for Barca in an independent Catalonia? Irish

Times News, https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/what-lies-ahead-for-bar%C3%A7a-

in-an-independent-catalonia-1.3252605, 12 Oct. 2017

How could Catalonia line up? And what would Spains national team look like?

Sky Sports, http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11064454/how-could-

catalonia-line-up-and-what-would-spains-national-team-look-like, 10 Feb. 2017