Friedrich Adolph Sorge (9 November 1828 – 26 October 1906) was a German communist political leader who emigrated to the United States, where he played an important role in the labor movement, including the foundation of the Socialist Labor Party of America.
Friedrich Adolph Sorge was born on 9 November 1828 in Bethau, Saxony, Germany, son of the Reverend Georg Sorge and Hedwig Lange.[1] His father was a free-thinking person, and often gave shelter to Polish revolutionaries travelling from France and Belgium to Poland.[2] He was 19 when the revolutions of 1848 in the German states began. He joined a group of armed revolutionaries in Saxony, but they were quickly suppressed by Pomeranian troops and Sorge was forced to take refuge in Switzerland. He returned to Germany and joined the KarlsruheFreikorp. His unit fought the Prussians in Baden and the Palatinate, losing both times. In June 1849 Sorge again took refuge in Switzerland.[3]
Sorge was condemned to death in Germany for his role in the revolution. In 1851 he was expelled by the Swiss and moved to Belgium. In March 1852 he was expelled from Belgium and moved to London, where he caught cholera. After recovering he boarded a ship for New York, arriving in June 1852.[3] He became a music teacher, married and settled in Hoboken, New Jersey.[1] In 1857 he joined Albert Komp and Abraham Jacobi in forming the New York Communist Club, which was an educational society involved in the anti-slavery movement.[4][3]
Socialist leader
Sorge became an active socialist in 1865, after the end of the American Civil War, and soon became the leading proponent of Karl Marx's views in the United States.[1] In December 1869 he founded Section I of New York of the International Workingmen's Association (IWMA, often called the First International), with 46 members. In December 1870 he established the Central Committee of the North American IWMA. In September 1871 Section I of the IWMA organized a demonstration of 20,000 workers, including black workers, demanding an eight-hour day and supporting the Paris Commune.[5]
From 1872 to 1874 Sorge was general secretary of the First International's worldwide organization.[1] His appointment followed the split between Marx and the anarchists led by Mikhail Bakunin, and a decision in September 1872 by the Hague Congress to transfer the IWA General Council to New York. While he was secretary the IWMA continued to decline in both America and Europe.[6]
In 1877 Sorge led a Marxist-oriented group in Newark that founded the Socialist Labor Party of America. Joseph Patrick McDonnell, editor of the New York Labor Standard gave significant assistance to Sorge. Sorge and McDonnell organized a textile strike in Paterson, New Jersey in 1878.[7] The party, following a European Marxist line, did not succeed in gaining much support, since most workers looked to the mainstream political parties to support their goals.[7] Sorge organized the International Labor Union of Hoboken in 1883.[1]
Later years
Sorge and Marx corresponded regularly from the 1860s until Marx died in 1883.[3] Friedrich Engels visited Sorge in Hoboken in 1888, after Sorge had retired from politics. Sorge contributed articles to the German Marxist journal Die Neue Zeit from 1891 to 1895, discussing the history of socialism in the United States.[1] According to Edward Aveling, Sorge was "one who was, perhaps, of all men the closest intimate in the later years of both Marx and Engels." Selig Perlman called him the father of modern socialism in America.[8]
"Report of the North American Federal Council to the Hague Congress," (German section) in Documents of the First International: The Hague Congress...Minutes and Documents
"The First International in America (1864-1876)". Friedrich Sorge Biography (sec.). Retrieved 2013-08-31.
Herreshoff, American Disciples of Marx, pp. 57–59, 70-71
Kai Schoenhals, "Introduction," Friedrich A. Sorge's Labor Movement in the United States: A History of the American Working Class from 1890 to 1896, pp ix-xi.
Gaido, Daniel (2006-09-01). The Formative Period of American Capitalism: A Materialist Interpretation. Taylor & Francis. ISBN978-0-203-96658-7. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
Hogarty, Richard A. (2001-01-01). Leon Abbett's New Jersey: The Emergence of the Modern Governor. American Philosophical Society. ISBN978-0-87169-243-6. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
friedrich, sorge, friedrich, adolph, sorge, november, 1828, october, 1906, german, communist, political, leader, emigrated, united, states, where, played, important, role, labor, movement, including, foundation, socialist, labor, party, america, friedrich, ado. Friedrich Adolph Sorge 9 November 1828 26 October 1906 was a German communist political leader who emigrated to the United States where he played an important role in the labor movement including the foundation of the Socialist Labor Party of America Friedrich SorgeFriedrich Adolph SorgeBorn 1828 11 09 9 November 1828Bethau Province of Saxony Kingdom of PrussiaDied26 October 1906 1906 10 26 aged 77 Hoboken New JerseyNationalityGerman AmericanOccupation s Music teacher labor leaderRelativesGustav Wilhelm Richard Sorge nephew Richard Sorge great nephew Contents 1 Early years 2 Socialist leader 3 Later years 4 Writings 5 SourcesEarly years EditFriedrich Adolph Sorge was born on 9 November 1828 in Bethau Saxony Germany son of the Reverend Georg Sorge and Hedwig Lange 1 His father was a free thinking person and often gave shelter to Polish revolutionaries travelling from France and Belgium to Poland 2 He was 19 when the revolutions of 1848 in the German states began He joined a group of armed revolutionaries in Saxony but they were quickly suppressed by Pomeranian troops and Sorge was forced to take refuge in Switzerland He returned to Germany and joined the Karlsruhe Freikorp His unit fought the Prussians in Baden and the Palatinate losing both times In June 1849 Sorge again took refuge in Switzerland 3 Sorge was condemned to death in Germany for his role in the revolution In 1851 he was expelled by the Swiss and moved to Belgium In March 1852 he was expelled from Belgium and moved to London where he caught cholera After recovering he boarded a ship for New York arriving in June 1852 3 He became a music teacher married and settled in Hoboken New Jersey 1 In 1857 he joined Albert Komp and Abraham Jacobi in forming the New York Communist Club which was an educational society involved in the anti slavery movement 4 3 Socialist leader EditSorge became an active socialist in 1865 after the end of the American Civil War and soon became the leading proponent of Karl Marx s views in the United States 1 In December 1869 he founded Section I of New York of the International Workingmen s Association IWMA often called the First International with 46 members In December 1870 he established the Central Committee of the North American IWMA In September 1871 Section I of the IWMA organized a demonstration of 20 000 workers including black workers demanding an eight hour day and supporting the Paris Commune 5 From 1872 to 1874 Sorge was general secretary of the First International s worldwide organization 1 His appointment followed the split between Marx and the anarchists led by Mikhail Bakunin and a decision in September 1872 by the Hague Congress to transfer the IWA General Council to New York While he was secretary the IWMA continued to decline in both America and Europe 6 In 1877 Sorge led a Marxist oriented group in Newark that founded the Socialist Labor Party of America Joseph Patrick McDonnell editor of the New York Labor Standard gave significant assistance to Sorge Sorge and McDonnell organized a textile strike in Paterson New Jersey in 1878 7 The party following a European Marxist line did not succeed in gaining much support since most workers looked to the mainstream political parties to support their goals 7 Sorge organized the International Labor Union of Hoboken in 1883 1 Later years EditSorge and Marx corresponded regularly from the 1860s until Marx died in 1883 3 Friedrich Engels visited Sorge in Hoboken in 1888 after Sorge had retired from politics Sorge contributed articles to the German Marxist journal Die Neue Zeit from 1891 to 1895 discussing the history of socialism in the United States 1 According to Edward Aveling Sorge was one who was perhaps of all men the closest intimate in the later years of both Marx and Engels Selig Perlman called him the father of modern socialism in America 8 Sorge continued to teach music into his old age 1 He died on 26 October 1906 in Hoboken New Jersey 1 The Soviet spy Richard Sorge was his grandnephew 9 Writings Edit Report of the North American Federal Council to the Hague Congress German section in Documents of the First International The Hague Congress Minutes and DocumentsSources EditCitations a b c d e f g h Moreno 2004 p 757 Mehring 2003 p 302 a b c d Friedrich Sorge Biography Ernst Robert 1994 Immigrant Life in New York City 1825 1863 Syracuse Syracuse University Press p 119 Gaido 2006 p 101 Gaido 2006 p 102 a b Hogarty 2001 p 46 Marx Engels amp Lapides 1990 p 209 Whymant 2007 p 13 Sources The First International in America 1864 1876 Friedrich Sorge Biography sec Retrieved 2013 08 31 Herreshoff American Disciples of Marx pp 57 59 70 71 Kai Schoenhals Introduction Friedrich A Sorge s Labor Movement in the United States A History of the American Working Class from 1890 to 1896 pp ix xi Gaido Daniel 2006 09 01 The Formative Period of American Capitalism A Materialist Interpretation Taylor amp Francis ISBN 978 0 203 96658 7 Retrieved 2013 08 31 Hogarty Richard A 2001 01 01 Leon Abbett s New Jersey The Emergence of the Modern Governor American Philosophical Society ISBN 978 0 87169 243 6 Retrieved 2013 08 31 Marx Karl Engels Friedrich Lapides Kenneth 1990 06 01 Marx and Engels on Trade Unions International Publishers Co ISBN 978 0 7178 0676 8 Retrieved 2013 08 31 Mehring Franz 2003 12 01 Obituary of Friedrich Sorge Historical Materialism BRILL ISBN 978 90 04 13606 9 Retrieved 2013 08 31 Moreno Barry 2004 Sorge Friedrich Adolf Encyclopedia of New Jersey Rutgers University Press ISBN 978 0 8135 3325 4 Retrieved 2013 08 31 Whymant Robert 2007 01 09 Stalin s Spy Richard Sorge and the Tokyo Espionage Ring I B Tauris ISBN 978 1 84511 310 0 Retrieved 2013 08 31 Herr Sorge sass mit zu Tisch Portrat eines Spions Spiegel Online Vol 24 1951 06 13 Retrieved 2019 04 30 Political officesPreceded byJohn Hales General Secretary of the International Workingmen s Association1872 1874 Succeeded byCarl Speyer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Friedrich Sorge amp oldid 1105999048, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
