First International

The International Workingmen’s Association, the first international revolutionary joint organization of the proletariat. It was founded on September 28, 1864, at a workmen's meeting held at St. Martin's Hall in London, England, by delegates of workers from England, France, Germany, Italy and Poland. The conference adopted the resolution establishing the International Workingmen’s Association and elected a Provisional Council. Marx, one of the founders and the actual leader, attended the inaugural conference and was elected to the presidium, and elected a member of the Provisional Council and corresponding secretary for Germany. Commissioned by the conference, Marx drafted the two documents, the Inaugural Address of the International Working Men’s Association and the Provisional Rules of the International Working Men’s Association. In September 1866, the Geneva Congress discussed and passed the Provisional Rules of the International Working Men’s Association, called the Rules of the International Working Men’s Association. In September 1871, the London Conference of Delegates amended it to be called the General Rules of the International Working Men’s Association, and it was passed at the meeting of the Central Council on November 1, 1864.

In the Inaugural Address of the International Working Men’s Association, Marx pointed out that misery of the working masses has not diminished from 1848 to 1864, and yet this period is unrivaled for the development of its industry and the growth of its commerce. Under the capitalist system, any increase in labor productive forces inevitably deepens the antagonism between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Marx fully affirmed the significance of the workers’ struggle for eight-hour working day. Marx also clarified the role of the political reorganization of the working class into a workers’ political party for its emancipation, emphasized that the conquest of political power has become the great duty of the working class, and called “Proletarians of all countries, unite!”. General Rules of the International Working Men’s Association stipulated the principles, aims, means and organizational structure of the International Workingmen’s Association; holding that the economical subjection of the man of labor to the capitalist lies at the bottom of servitude in all its forms, of all social misery, mental degradation, and political dependence; emphasizing that the emancipation of the working classes must be conquered by the working classes themselves, that the struggle for the emancipation of the working classes means not a struggle for class privileges and monopolies, but for equal rights and duties, and the abolition of all class rule; the emancipation of the working class needs strengthened international co-operation; in its struggle against the collective power of the propertied classes, the working class cannot act as a class except by constituting itself into a political party, distinct from, and opposed to all old parties formed by the propertied classes. This constitution of the working class into a political party is indispensable in order to insure the triumph of the social revolution, and of its ultimate end, the abolition of classes.

Under the leadership of Marx and Engels, the First International spread scientific socialism and fought against various other socialist schools. In the early period, it mainly opposed Proudhonism; in the later period, it mainly opposed Bakuninism. It also criticized and assisted the trade unionists, Lassalleans, and Blanquists. The First International united the working class of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland in their struggles and supported the national liberation movements, while at the same time training a number of proletarian revolutionaries and laying the foundations for the establishment of proletarian political parties in various countries.

In 1871, the French branch of the First International took part and led the Paris Commune, however, with the defeat of the Paris Commune, the organization became weaker and weaker. After The Hague Congress in 1872, the headquarters of the First International was moved to New York, which gradually weakened its ties with European branches, while the factional struggles within the American branches became fierce. Under such circumstances, the organizational form of First International could no longer meet the requirements of the new situation, with Marx’s proposal, the Philadelphia Conference of Delegates officially declared the dissolution of First International on July 15, 1876.