The Belgian strikes of 1886, occasionally known as the social revolt of 1886 (French: Révolte sociale de 1886), was a violent period of industrial strikes and riots in Belgium from 18 to 29 March 1886 and an important moment in Belgium's 19th-century history. The strike or labour revolt was provoked by social inequalities in Belgian society and has compared to the peasant jacqueries of the Middle Ages.[2]
The Strike (1886) by Robert Koehler, often assumed to depict the 1886 strikes in Belgium[1]
Soldiers open fire on rioters in Roux after the burning of a factory. An engraving from Le Monde Illustré based on sketches by their correspondent.
The strike of 1886 originated as a small gathering organised by anarchists in Liège to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Paris Commune on 18 March.[3] The call met with unexpected support, partly as a result of the ongoing economic downturn and harsh winter. Between 800-900 workers, many from the city's metal works, attended the initial demonstration led by August Wagener.[3] Rather than abating, the strike soon spread across Belgium's industrial regions to the Province of Hainaut.[4] In Hainaut, it was notably led by the radical socialist Alfred Defuisseaux.
The 1886 strike became famous for its violence. A glass factory that had been known for automating its production was destroyed by rioters.[5] The Belgian Army was deployed to the region and two "classes" of reservists were called up. Several dozen people were killed in confrontations with the Army, Garde Civique and Gendarmerie. Ten workers were killed in a single incident in Roux, near Charleroi, on 29 March.[4] The 1886 revolt has been described by modern historians as "the biggest and most violent strike wave ever to sweep across industrial Wallonia".[4]
Strikers burn the glass factory and château of M. Baudoux at Jumet during the strike, as depicted by Le Monde Illustré
Although the strike failed to achieve any tangible objectives, it is considered by historians to be the first time the Belgian working class achieved significant concessions from the national government.[6] A parliamentary Labour Commission (Enquête du Travail) was created which led to the first labour legislation in Belgian history.[6] Two leaders of the glassmakers union, blamed for the damage, were defended in court by the future Walloon socialist politician Jules Destrée. They were found guilty but granted an amnesty in 1888.
Politically, the strikes led to the emergence of a parliamentary socialist party which aimed to redirect workers' demands away from violence and towards the cause of electoral reform. This led to a decisive break between socialists and the Liberal Party. Defuisseaux was expelled from the Belgian Workers' Party and established his own radical socialist party, the Parti Socialiste Républicaine. He also published a hugely successful pamphlet entitled Le catéchisme du peuple (The People's Catechism).[7] The 1886 strikes led to the rapid expansion of the trade unions across Belgium.[8] The Liberals also splintered politically, leading to the creation of a separate, new and more radical party, the Parti Progressiste under Paul Janson, which would remain separate until 1900.[9] For the governing centre-right Catholic Party of Auguste Beernaert, the strikes led to a change of ideology towards social Catholicism.[10][6] It was followed by further strikes in 1887, 1890 and 1891, as well as a general strike in 1893.[11]
In the aftermath of the strike, 27 supposed leaders (including Defuisseaux) were tried before the court of assizes in Mons in May 1889. Highly publicized, the trial [fr] collapsed when it emerged that the Sûreté Publique had infiltrated the radical group, acting as agents provocateurs.
Deneckere, Gita (2010). Les Turbulences de la Belle Époque, 1878-1905. Nouvelle histoire de Belgique. Brussels: Le Cri Éd. ISBN978-2-8710-6544-9.
Dennis, James M. (2011). Robert Koehler's The Strike: The Improbable Story of an Iconic 1886 Painting of Labor Protest. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN978-0-299-25133-8.
Strikwerda, Carl (1997). A House Divided: Catholics, Socialists, and Flemish Nationalists in Nineteenth-century Belgium. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN978-0847685271.
Witte, Els; Craeybeckx, Jan; Meynen, Alain (2009). Political history of Belgium from 1830 onwards (New ed.). Brussels: ASP. ISBN978-90-5487-517-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belgian strike of 1886.
Les émeutes ouvrières de mars 1886 at Charleroi-Decouverte (official website)
January 01, 1970
belgian, strike, 1886, belgian, strikes, 1886, occasionally, known, social, revolt, 1886, french, révolte, sociale, 1886, violent, period, industrial, strikes, riots, belgium, from, march, 1886, important, moment, belgium, 19th, century, history, strike, labou. The Belgian strikes of 1886 occasionally known as the social revolt of 1886 French Revolte sociale de 1886 was a violent period of industrial strikes and riots in Belgium from 18 to 29 March 1886 and an important moment in Belgium s 19th century history The strike or labour revolt was provoked by social inequalities in Belgian society and has compared to the peasant jacqueries of the Middle Ages 2 The Strike 1886 by Robert Koehler often assumed to depict the 1886 strikes in Belgium 1 Contents 1 Strike 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Bibliography 4 External linksStrike edit nbsp Soldiers open fire on rioters in Roux after the burning of a factory An engraving from Le Monde Illustre based on sketches by their correspondent The strike of 1886 originated as a small gathering organised by anarchists in Liege to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Paris Commune on 18 March 3 The call met with unexpected support partly as a result of the ongoing economic downturn and harsh winter Between 800 900 workers many from the city s metal works attended the initial demonstration led by August Wagener 3 Rather than abating the strike soon spread across Belgium s industrial regions to the Province of Hainaut 4 In Hainaut it was notably led by the radical socialist Alfred Defuisseaux The 1886 strike became famous for its violence A glass factory that had been known for automating its production was destroyed by rioters 5 The Belgian Army was deployed to the region and two classes of reservists were called up Several dozen people were killed in confrontations with the Army Garde Civique and Gendarmerie Ten workers were killed in a single incident in Roux near Charleroi on 29 March 4 The 1886 revolt has been described by modern historians as the biggest and most violent strike wave ever to sweep across industrial Wallonia 4 nbsp Strikers burn the glass factory and chateau of M Baudoux at Jumet during the strike as depicted by Le Monde Illustre Although the strike failed to achieve any tangible objectives it is considered by historians to be the first time the Belgian working class achieved significant concessions from the national government 6 A parliamentary Labour Commission Enquete du Travail was created which led to the first labour legislation in Belgian history 6 Two leaders of the glassmakers union blamed for the damage were defended in court by the future Walloon socialist politician Jules Destree They were found guilty but granted an amnesty in 1888 Politically the strikes led to the emergence of a parliamentary socialist party which aimed to redirect workers demands away from violence and towards the cause of electoral reform This led to a decisive break between socialists and the Liberal Party Defuisseaux was expelled from the Belgian Workers Party and established his own radical socialist party the Parti Socialiste Republicaine He also published a hugely successful pamphlet entitled Le catechisme du peuple The People s Catechism 7 The 1886 strikes led to the rapid expansion of the trade unions across Belgium 8 The Liberals also splintered politically leading to the creation of a separate new and more radical party the Parti Progressiste under Paul Janson which would remain separate until 1900 9 For the governing centre right Catholic Party of Auguste Beernaert the strikes led to a change of ideology towards social Catholicism 10 6 It was followed by further strikes in 1887 1890 and 1891 as well as a general strike in 1893 11 In the aftermath of the strike 27 supposed leaders including Defuisseaux were tried before the court of assizes in Mons in May 1889 Highly publicized the trial fr collapsed when it emerged that the Surete Publique had infiltrated the radical group acting as agents provocateurs See also edit nbsp Organized labour portal General strikes in Belgium Bloody Sunday 1887 in the United Kingdom Belgium in the long nineteenth centuryReferences edit Dennis 2011 p 81 Deneckere 2010 p 52 a b Deneckere 2010 p 50 a b c Witte et al 2009 p 102 Deneckere 2010 p 51 a b c Deneckere 2010 p 53 Deneckere 2010 p 56 Deneckere 2010 p 57 Deneckere 2010 p 55 Witte et al 2009 pp 109 10 Strikwerda 1997 p 161 Bibliography edit Deneckere Gita 2010 Les Turbulences de la Belle Epoque 1878 1905 Nouvelle histoire de Belgique Brussels Le Cri Ed ISBN 978 2 8710 6544 9 Dennis James M 2011 Robert Koehler s The Strike The Improbable Story of an Iconic 1886 Painting of Labor Protest Madison University of Wisconsin Press ISBN 978 0 299 25133 8 Strikwerda Carl 1997 A House Divided Catholics Socialists and Flemish Nationalists in Nineteenth century Belgium Lanham Md Rowman amp Littlefield ISBN 978 0847685271 Witte Els Craeybeckx Jan Meynen Alain 2009 Political history of Belgium from 1830 onwards New ed Brussels ASP ISBN 978 90 5487 517 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belgian strike of 1886 Les emeutes ouvrieres de mars 1886 at Charleroi Decouverte official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Belgian strike of 1886 amp oldid 1197761746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
