First International: history of creation and activity

The first international is the embodiment of the idea of the socialist system. Long before the events of October 1917, this project appeared in the world. The main ideologists are two: Bakunin and Marx. Between them was a serious struggle for the minds, for ideological leadership. Mass charges of espionage against Russia, slander and other methods have trampled Bakunin. Supporters of Marx won. It was Marxist ideas that served as the ideology of our Bolshevik revolutionaries. Does the First International have anything to do with the events of 1917 in Russia? What was it, a plot or a stormy course of history? We will try to understand.

The First International: the year of creation

September 28, 1864 in London, the organization "International Workers' Association" was founded. Organizers - K. Marx and F. Engels with their supporters. This partnership is the First International.

Background of education

The end of the XIX century is not a random time for the creation of such workers' organizations. In the world there were many events that contributed to this:

• Bourgeois revolution in 1789 in France.
• The large development of modern industry in Europe with the growth of factories, factories and, consequently, the number of workers.
• A radical change in transport. 1807 - the invention of the steamer, which by the end of the XIX century completely replaced the sailing fleet. Russia and Turkey are the last countries of Europe where they could still be observed. The railway network has grown rapidly.

All these events gave rise to a growing number of workers who began to think about their political and economic rights. However, everyone understood that a strong alliance of workers was needed. A fist that can withstand the onslaught of wealthy capitalists with administrative resources. It was on this fertile soil that the ideological "shepherds" of similar ideas began their activity - K. Marx and F. Engels. It was they who tried to direct the economic demands of the workers to the "right" political channel.

However, it is a mistake to think that there were two ideologists. Supporters of these ideas were among the highest financial circles in Europe. One of them is George Odger, secretary of the London Council of Trade Unions. He squeezed the idea of representation of workers in parliament.

The push to the International

The creation of the First International is connected with the first economic crisis of the capitalist system in 1857-1859. Against the background of simultaneous problems in all developed industrial countries, the understanding of global unification among workers also came. It is from this period that the proletarian unions of England and France come to the conclusion about a single international organization. An event in Russia added to the fire. In 1863, Alexander II dealt with the revolution in Poland. The insurgents demanded independence.

The Marxists organized ubiquitous meetings of workers. They described allegedly inhuman methods of "Russian punishers", who at the root cut the political freedom of "peace-loving Poles". None of the economic demands in Poland were out of the question. This corner of the empire was the most developed in this respect. In the domestic Polish legislation, the central government did not intervene.

The manipulation of public consciousness was also used by the ideologists of the International. They directed the working masses to political demands, which was not the case before. The slogans of war with Russia were shouted out for mass approval. Proletarian began to understand his strength. Rather, he was helped to do this.

The "atrocities" of Russians are a symbol of the unification of European workers

On December 5, 1863, the British workers turned to the French with the proposal of joint demands to the governments. Goals - a war with Russia for the independence of Poland.

A year later, in 1864, a joint meeting was already held in London, in the hall of St. Martin. Thus, the situation in Russia has become a decisive factor for unification. K. Marx himself, who had never before appeared on such events, was present at this rally. He felt a change in the consciousness of the working class, who realized what constituted a powerful driving force in history.

First Congress: organization of planned strikes

In 1866 in Geneva, the activities of the First International are connected with the organization of the first congress. It adopted a charter drawn up by Marx, elected the General Council, listened to the reports of the workers. After the Congress, the new Council began to direct the strikes of workers. Now these were no longer chaotic disparate speeches, but competently planned actions. While the police disperses some of the demonstrators, at the other end of the city others start striking.

Second Congress: the creation of political forces

In Lausanne in September 1867 the second congress of the First International was convened. More serious questions appeared on the agenda: the active participation of the socialist forces with the mass support of workers in the political life of the country. After it, the bourgeoisie began to show serious fears for its capital and its privileged position in society.

Third Congress: Call for War

At the third congress in Brussels in 1868, ideas were voiced for the defense of their ideas. In fact, the First International called for a class revolution. At the Congress there was a resolution "about the manifestation of the greatest activity". One can observe the transformation of the idea from economic requirements to the call for the overthrow of the system in a rather short period.

This could no longer tolerate neither the authorities nor the bourgeois. Political persecution begins. The Paris Commune , created in France, was dispersed. This dealt a serious blow to the International. Supporters across Europe began to be imprisoned, dismissed from work, etc.

Who needs it?

As the Roman lawyer Cassius said, if a crime occurs, it means that someone needs it. Indeed, who could need a revolution in a rapidly developing Europe. Paradoxically, the most radical views and calls for war fall precisely at the peak of development. Never before did the Europeans live in such conditions. History also repeated with our country. It is during the period of the greatest power of the state that such forces are activated in the history of the Russian Empire as well. However, our society could not cope with such a threat. Why did the First International prove unviable? Has he disappeared from the political struggle? This will be discussed later.

First International: briefly about further developments

The First International was not ready to unite in a single revolutionary struggle in Europe. Wise Europeans realized that it was necessary to follow the path of liberalism, not revolution. After that, the General Council of the International moved to the United States. Its further manifestation will affect our history during the February and later October Revolutions. It is from the United States that the founder of the idea of the world revolution, Leo Trotsky, will come , but we will assume that perhaps this is a coincidence. The First International existed formally until 1876, when a decision was made in Philadelphia to stop it.

Results

It is noteworthy that the First and Second International sought to overthrow the political systems of a rapidly developing Europe. The ideologue of socialism Bakunin, just was against it. He called only to improve the life and work of the working class. Perhaps, therefore, a whole Marxist conspiracy was organized against him. According to one of the versions, this was done in order to eliminate the competitor. The leaders of the International were precisely the socialist revolution, the destruction of a prosperous Europe.

Lenin mentions such plans of the International: "With the creation of the International Working Men's Association, the first time in history there has appeared a mass international independent party of the proletariat, which, thanks to the leadership of Marx, laid the foundation of its activity on the principle of class struggle against the bourgeoisie."

Further events in history led to this. Only in the role of the driving force of world chaos did not the Socialist International, but the nationalist forces of Germany, who came on the wreckage of the world war. It is noteworthy that the sponsorship of Hitler was provided by bankers from the United States. Perhaps this is a coincidence.