The Workingmen's Party of the United States (WPUS), established in 1876, was one of the first Marxist-influenced political parties in the United States. It is remembered as the forerunner of the Socialist Labor Party of America.
The WPUS was formed on July 19 1876 when a congress of socialists from around the United States met in Philadelphia in an attempt to unify their political power.[1] Seven societies sent representatives, and within four days the party was formed under the name of the Workingmen's Party of the United States. The party, composed mostly of foreign-born laborers, represented a collection of socialist ideas from different groups, most notably followers of Karl Marx and Ferdinand Lassalle. The Lassallean faction believed in forming a socialist political party to advance their agenda incrementally through the electoral process. Marxian socialists, however, opposed to reformism believed in forming a socialist party as an instrument of organization of the proletariat to propagate consciousness leading to an ultimate revolutionary seizing of state power. They championed strong trade unions, strikes, and boycotts to develop class consciousness through class conflict.[2]
The party at first had little influence over any politics in the United States on a national or local level. Much like the International Workingmen's Association in America before it, the WPUS was widely viewed as socialistic. However, during the railroad strikes during the summer of 1877, the party, led by the charismatic and well-spoken American Albert Parsons, showed some of its power by rallying support for the striking railroad workers.[3]
Although the WPUS was largely unsuccessful in the strikes it helped lead, on August 6, 1878 the party had managed to gain enough popularity to capture 5 out of 7 seats in Kentucky state legislature.[4][citation needed] As news spread around the country of the success of the WPUS, more "Workingmen's Parties" formed in cities around the country, some chartered by the WPUS and some not.
^. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
^Dray, Philip (2010). There Is Power In A Union. New York: Doubleday. p. 128. ISBN978-0-385-52629-6.
^Dray, Philip (2010). There Is Power In A Union. New York: Doubleday. pp. 114–15. ISBN978-0-385-52629-6.
^Foner, Philip (1984). The Workingmen's Party of the United States. Minneapolis, MN: MEP Publications. p. 100. ISBN0-930656-35-0.
^Draper, Theodore (1957). Roots of American Communism (1st ed.). Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, Inc. p. 12. ISBN0929587006.
Further readingedit
Philip S. Foner, The Great Labor Uprising of 1877. New York: Monad Press, 1977.
Robert V. Bruce, 1877: Year of Violence. Indianapolis: The Bobbs Merrill Company, 1959.
External linksedit
Philip S. Foner, The Workingmen's Party of the United States: A History of the First Marxist Party in the Americas
Philip S. Foner (ed.), The Formation of the Workingmen's Party of the United States: Proceedings of the Union Congress, held at Philadelphia, July 19-22, 1876. New York: AIMS, 1976.
Workingmens Party of the United States, Proceedings of the Union Congress, held at Philadelphia on the 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Day of July 1876. Declaration of Principles, Constitution, Resolutions, etc ... —Original 1876 edition of the proceedings.
January 05, 2024
workingmen, party, united, states, this, article, about, 1876, socialist, party, eastern, united, states, 1877, racist, party, california, workingmen, party, california, other, uses, workingmen, party, disambiguation, wpus, established, 1876, first, marxist, i. This article is about 1876 socialist party in the eastern United States For the 1877 racist party in California see Workingmen s Party of California For other uses see Workingmen s Party disambiguation The Workingmen s Party of the United States WPUS established in 1876 was one of the first Marxist influenced political parties in the United States It is remembered as the forerunner of the Socialist Labor Party of America Workingmen s Party of the United StatesFoundedJuly 15 1876 147 years ago 1876 07 15 DissolvedDecember 26 1877 146 years ago 1877 12 26 Merger ofInternational Workingmen s Association in AmericaWorkingmen s Party of IllinoisSocial Democratic Workingmen s Party of North AmericaSocial Political Workingmen s Society of CincinnatiSucceeded bySocialist Labor Party of AmericaHeadquartersNew York CityIdeologyLassallism majority Marxism minority Political positionLeft wingPolitics of United StatesPolitical partiesElections Contents 1 Organizational history 1 1 Formation 1 2 Name Change 2 Footnotes 3 Further reading 4 External linksOrganizational history editFormation edit The WPUS was formed on July 19 1876 when a congress of socialists from around the United States met in Philadelphia in an attempt to unify their political power 1 Seven societies sent representatives and within four days the party was formed under the name of the Workingmen s Party of the United States The party composed mostly of foreign born laborers represented a collection of socialist ideas from different groups most notably followers of Karl Marx and Ferdinand Lassalle The Lassallean faction believed in forming a socialist political party to advance their agenda incrementally through the electoral process Marxian socialists however opposed to reformism believed in forming a socialist party as an instrument of organization of the proletariat to propagate consciousness leading to an ultimate revolutionary seizing of state power They championed strong trade unions strikes and boycotts to develop class consciousness through class conflict 2 The party at first had little influence over any politics in the United States on a national or local level Much like the International Workingmen s Association in America before it the WPUS was widely viewed as socialistic However during the railroad strikes during the summer of 1877 the party led by the charismatic and well spoken American Albert Parsons showed some of its power by rallying support for the striking railroad workers 3 Although the WPUS was largely unsuccessful in the strikes it helped lead on August 6 1878 the party had managed to gain enough popularity to capture 5 out of 7 seats in Kentucky state legislature 4 citation needed As news spread around the country of the success of the WPUS more Workingmen s Parties formed in cities around the country some chartered by the WPUS and some not Name Change edit In December 1877 the Lassallean led organization changed its name from the Workingmen s Party of the United States to the Socialist Labor Party of North America 5 Footnotes edit Notes on the Early History of American Communism 1 February 2014 Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Dray Philip 2010 There Is Power In A Union New York Doubleday p 128 ISBN 978 0 385 52629 6 Dray Philip 2010 There Is Power In A Union New York Doubleday pp 114 15 ISBN 978 0 385 52629 6 Foner Philip 1984 The Workingmen s Party of the United States Minneapolis MN MEP Publications p 100 ISBN 0 930656 35 0 Draper Theodore 1957 Roots of American Communism 1st ed Chicago Ivan R Dee Inc p 12 ISBN 0929587006 Further reading editPhilip S Foner The Great Labor Uprising of 1877 New York Monad Press 1977 Robert V Bruce 1877 Year of Violence Indianapolis The Bobbs Merrill Company 1959 External links editPhilip S Foner The Workingmen s Party of the United States A History of the First Marxist Party in the Americas Philip S Foner ed The Formation of the Workingmen s Party of the United States Proceedings of the Union Congress held at Philadelphia July 19 22 1876 New York AIMS 1976 Workingmens Party of the United States Proceedings of the Union Congress held at Philadelphia on the 19th 20th 21st and 22nd Day of July 1876 Declaration of Principles Constitution Resolutions etc Original 1876 edition of the proceedings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Workingmen 27s Party of the United States amp oldid 1189156596, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
