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Socialist Labor Party of America: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox political party|name=Socialist Labor Party of America|founded=July 1876|headquarters=Mountain View, [[California]]}}
{{Infobox political party|name=Socialist Labor Party of America|founded=July 1876|headquarters=Mountain View, [[California]]|membership_year=1879|membership=10,000}}


The '''Socialist Labor Party of America''', founded in 1876, is the oldest [[Socialism|socialist]] party in the [[United States of America|United States]]. It was originally known as the '''Workingmen's Party of America'''.
The '''Socialist Labor Party of America''', founded in 1876, is the oldest [[Socialism|socialist]] party in the [[United States of America|United States]]. It was originally known as the '''Workingmen's Party of America'''.
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=== Revisionism ===
=== Revisionism ===
The SLP, controlled by Van Patten, abandoned [[Trade union|trade unions]] and devoted itself only to [[electoralism]]. It was also racist against [[Qing dynasty (1636–1912)|Chinese]] immigrants and called for a gradual abolition of [[capitalism]] instead of a [[revolution]]. By 1883, the party's membership had decreased to 1,500 and Van Patten disappeared after six years as national secretary.<ref name=":0" />
The SLP, controlled by Van Patten, abandoned [[Trade union|trade unions]] and devoted itself only to [[electoralism]]. It was also racist against [[Qing dynasty (1636–1912)|Chinese]] immigrants and called for a gradual abolition of [[capitalism]] instead of a [[revolution]]. By 1883, the party's membership had decreased to 1,500 and Van Patten disappeared after six years as national secretary.<ref name=":0" />
=== De Leonism ===
In 1891, [[Daniel De Leon]] became leader of the party. He was a revisionist and rejected the [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] in favor of [[Anarcho-syndicalism|syndicalism]]. His policies and political line are now known as [[De Leonism]].<ref>{{Citation|author=William Z. Foster|year=1952|title=History of the Communist Party of the United States|title-url=http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/|chapter=The S.L.P: De Leonism and Decline (1890-1900)|chapter-url=http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/2013/01/chapter-six-slp-de-leonism-and-decline.html}}</ref>


== Political positions ==
== Political positions ==

Revision as of 14:46, 11 June 2022

Socialist Labor Party of America

FoundedJuly 1876
HeadquartersMountain View, California
Membership (1879)10,000


The Socialist Labor Party of America, founded in 1876, is the oldest socialist party in the United States. It was originally known as the Workingmen's Party of America.

History

Foundation

The Socialist Labor Party was founded in July 1876 in Philadelphia, shortly after the dissolution of the First International. It contained Marxist factions of the First International and Lassalleans from the Illinois Labor Party. About 3,000 members participated in the founding congress. The Lassalleans won a majority in the congress and elected Philip Van Patten as national secretary.

The Socialist Labor Party supported the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, which was put down by 100,000 federal troops.[1]

Growth

By 1879, the Socialist Labor Party had 10,000 members from 24 out of 38 states. The SLP endorsed the Greenback Labor Party, which won 300,000 votes, in the 1880 presidential election.[1]

Revisionism

The SLP, controlled by Van Patten, abandoned trade unions and devoted itself only to electoralism. It was also racist against Chinese immigrants and called for a gradual abolition of capitalism instead of a revolution. By 1883, the party's membership had decreased to 1,500 and Van Patten disappeared after six years as national secretary.[1]

De Leonism

In 1891, Daniel De Leon became leader of the party. He was a revisionist and rejected the dictatorship of the proletariat in favor of syndicalism. His policies and political line are now known as De Leonism.[2]

Political positions

The Socialist Labor Party called for nationalization of railroads and telegraphs. It supported state-owned industry operated by trade unions.[1]

References