Religious extremism led to attacks on Jewish communities, and in 1391, the ordinary populace in many places set fire to Jewish quarters and forced the Jews to convert. The Jewish question raised a hitherto unknown problem: the new or converted Christians. In the mid-15th century, a conflict broke out in Barcelona and in other cities between the Biga - the patricians and wealthy merchants - and the Busca - the craftsmen, smaller merchants and those of a similar status - who demanded greater representation on the municipal council and the implementation of a protectionist economic policy. The Busca gained control of Barcelona's government between 1453 and 1460.