The predominantly left-wing Generalitat of Catalonia led by President Lluís Companys declared the Catalan State in reaction to the inclusion of the right-wing CEDA party in the Spanish Republican government of Alejandro Lerroux.

Nevertheless, incoming prime minister Alejandro Lerroux formed a government which excluded CEDA and was dominated by his Radical Republican Party (RRP), which came second place with 102 seats.

[3] President Niceto Alcalá Zamora, unwilling to call new elections, instructed Lerroux to form a new government, which was announced on 4 October 1934 and included three CEDA members.

[4] There were also clashes in Madrid, but in general, planned uprisings failed to materialise or were quickly put down, and members of the Spanish military and of the Guardia Civil did not, as hoped, join the rebels.

Catalonia saw the formation of the Alianza Obrera [es] (Workers' Alliance), an anti-fascist organisation among whose aims was preparation for a revolution to establish a "federal" Spanish republic.

On 5 October the general strike was declared in various Catalan towns, among them Sabadell, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Granollers, Mataró or Badalona.

[14] The general strike in Catalonia was organised by the Alianza Obrera, working alongside the Escamots (squads), a paramilitary adjunct to the ERC.

He moved against trade union and militia headquarters, both of whom surrendered quickly, then brought light artillery to bear against the Barcelona city hall and the Generalitat.