Fifth The Hague Congress of the First International in 1872

Congress of the First International held September 2–7, 1872, in The Hague, Netherlands. It was attended by 67 delegates from 15 countries. This was the first time that Marx and Engels attended an International congress. Marx made a summary report on behalf of the General Council, which was approved by the majority of the delegates. However, during the discussion on the strengthening of the General Council's powers, the Bakuninists, in the name of anti-authoritarianism, preached anarchism and opposed the resolution of the Second London Conference of the International on organizational questions. The General Council fought back against the Bakuninist campaign to split the International. After a heated debate, the Congress adopted a resolution to strengthen the powers and functions of the General Council and adopted by a majority the proposal to relocate the General Council to the United States.

At the Congress, Engels made a report entitled On the Alliance of Social Democracy, exposing the conspiracy by the Bakuninists attempting to split the International within the International. The Congress decided to expel Bakunin and Guillaume from the First International. The Hague Congress ended with the defeat of the Bakuninists.