Working Men's Association

The International Workingmen's Association (IWA) was organized in London at a mass meeting of European trade unionists in 1864. Karl Marx was elected to the General Council and he organized the International as a propaganda vehicle for international socialism. Until about 1869 the International concentrated on organizing trade unions. After that the International became interested in gaining support for itself in the United States. It found support in two rival factions of American socialists, the followers of Ferdinand Lassalle and the followers of Friedrich Sorge. In 1872 the IWA held a conference at The Hague, at which the General Council voted to move its headquarters to New York City, thus giving control of the IWA to the Americans, led by Sorge. The IWA was dissolved in 1876, and many of its members then helped to launch the Workingmen's Party of the United States.

From the description of International Workingmen's Association records, 1868-1877. [microform]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122530286