International Workingmen's Association
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The International Workingmen's Association (IWA, 1864–1876), often called the First International, was an international organization which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing socialist, communist and anarchist political groups and trade union organizations that were based on the working class and class struggle. It was founded in 1864 in a workmen's meeting held in St Martin's Hall, London. Its first congress was held in 1866 in Geneva.
In Europe, a period of harsh reaction followed the widespread Revolutions of 1848. The next major phase of revolutionary activity began almost twenty years later with the founding of the IWA in 1864. At its peak, the IWA reported having 8 million members, while police reported 5 million.
In 1872 the organization split in two over conflicts between communist and anarchist factions. It dissolved in 1876. The Second International was founded in 1889.
See also
- International Workingmen's Association in America
- Second International and Socialist International
- Third International (Comintern)
- Fourth International and Trotskyist internationals
- Fifth International
- International Working People's Association
- International Workers Association
- International Anarchist Congresses
- List of left-wing internationals
- The Internationale
- George Odger, radical British trade unionist and reformer, President of the International.
- Victor Considérant, a utopian socialist and member of the International.
- Alfred Walton, radical British reformer and member of the International.
- Group of Narodnik Socialists