Question: American Socialism of the 1870s
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Hapsburg
Banned
Nope. The oldest socialistic party in the US was the Socialist Labor Party, which was just a low-level thing in the 1880's and 1890's. Its only real political venture was the NYC mayoral election, which it lost.
The SLP joined with the Social-Democratic Party, founded in 1898, to become the Socialist Party of America in 1901. Their first successful venture was Victor L. Berger's congressional run in 1911, and Meyer London in 1915. They would serve on-and-off in Congress, the only members of that body from the Socialist Party. Over seventy mayors and numerous state legislators were from the SPA; Eugene Debs ran for president five times between 1900 and 1920, but lost every time, obviously.
But their political activity was mostly in the early 20th century. There were no socialist parties in the US during the 1870's, or even in most of Europe. Hell, the oldest socialist party in the world, the Social Democratic Party of Germany, was only founded in 1875.
The SLP joined with the Social-Democratic Party, founded in 1898, to become the Socialist Party of America in 1901. Their first successful venture was Victor L. Berger's congressional run in 1911, and Meyer London in 1915. They would serve on-and-off in Congress, the only members of that body from the Socialist Party. Over seventy mayors and numerous state legislators were from the SPA; Eugene Debs ran for president five times between 1900 and 1920, but lost every time, obviously.
But their political activity was mostly in the early 20th century. There were no socialist parties in the US during the 1870's, or even in most of Europe. Hell, the oldest socialist party in the world, the Social Democratic Party of Germany, was only founded in 1875.
the first Marxist-influenced political party in the United States was the Workingmen's Party started in 1876, they picked up 5 out of 7 spots Kentucky state legislature in 1878 (Kentucky? really now?) that year they become the Socialist Labor Party, they were De Leonists if any one cares.
AmIndHistoryAuthor
Banned
Most of the Germans that came to Texas before the Civil War were freethinkers and proto socialists, often setting up communal experiments or communities. Most of the mayors and other local officials were at least socialist-influenced. They were strongly abolitionist, paid Indians for land they settled on, and set up the first bilingual education anywhere in the US.
http://www.labordallas.org/hist/reds.htm
But there wasn't a Socialist Party in the state til 1900.
http://www.labordallas.org/hist/reds.htm
But there wasn't a Socialist Party in the state til 1900.
Jaded_Railman
Banned
How could a nation whose largest majority is property holders fall for a sham that's against the existence of property?
In fact, in the 1870's, what kind of traction could 'socialism' even get? The industrial working class is a tiny portion of the population, the majority is still free-holding farmers. While you might be able to get some kind of alliance between debt-ridden farmers and inner-city laborers...how is it going to turn out any different than IOTL, where this happened anyway?
In fact, in the 1870's, what kind of traction could 'socialism' even get? The industrial working class is a tiny portion of the population, the majority is still free-holding farmers. While you might be able to get some kind of alliance between debt-ridden farmers and inner-city laborers...how is it going to turn out any different than IOTL, where this happened anyway?
AmIndHistoryAuthor
Banned
Plenty of property owners favor socialism or even its more radical versions. For example, most people in Cuba own their own homes.
Those farmers in the 1870s were already losing their property in large numbers, driving them to the cities looking for work. Thus the Populists, who actually believed in producerism, much like Jefferson.
Some historians think the failure of the Populist mvmt was because it allowed itself to be co opted by the Democrats, other that it was too split by racism. I think there are already threads imagining Bryan wins in 1900, or McKinley doesn't get assassinated, both leading to a more socialist US.