Talk:Geneva Congress (1866)

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IWA?[edit]

The acronym is IWMA not IWA. See Holthoon and van der Linden (1988)'Internationalism in the labour movement 1830-1940' which is an authoritative book unlike others out there on the IWMA — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.84.88.181 (talk) 02:02, 25 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Might also want to incorporate some of the information below into the article. Particularly-- condemned female labor in the manufacturing industries, called for labor unions not to content themselves with immediate matters, but rather to challenge the system of capital itself, condemned standing armies and approved the universal arming of the populus and their instruction in the handling of arms, It called for a comprehensive system of education, both intellectual and technical, which would raise the level of the working class.

3. “First Congress”—Geneva—Sept. 3-8, 1866

The First Congress of the International took place in Geneva from Sept. 3 to 8, 1866. It was attended by 60 delegates. Although some of these delegates were representatives of the schools of Proudhon, Blanqui, or Bakunin, the general tendency of the gathering was socialist in the Marxian tradition. (fn. Kirkup, A History of Socialism, pg. 169.) The Geneva Convention of 1866 endorsed the 8 Hour Day and condemned female labor in the manufacturing industries “as a cause of the degeneration and demoralization of the human race." They called for labor unions not to content themselves with immediate matters, but rather to challenge the system of capital itself. The gathering also unanimously condemned standing armies and approved the universal arming of the populus and their instruction in the handling of arms. (fn. Woolsey, Communism and Socialism, pp. 138-139.) It called for a comprehensive system of education, both intellectual and technical, which would raise the level of the working class. (fn. Kirkup, A History of Socialism, pg. 169.)

Kirkup (1892): “Socialistic principles were set forth only in the most general terms. With regard to labour the International did not seek to enunciate a doctrinaire system, but only to proclaim general principles. They must aim at free cooperation, and for this end the decisive power in the state must be transferred from capitalists and landlords to the workers.” (fn. Kirkup, A History of Socialism, pp. 169-170.)

In the aftermath of the First Congress, the Central Council approved a change in the dues assessment for affiliated organizations, which the Congress had pegged at 3 pennies per member per year to 1/2 penny per member per year. This reduction was made at the Oct. 9, 1866 meeting of the Central Council. (fn. Documents of the First International: The General Council of the First International, 1866-1868...: Minutes, pp. 45-46.) The reduction was made because it seemed unlikely that any organizations would pay the more onerous rate and the impoverished council sought to get at least some money rather than none. The bylaws for England further stated that dues for individual members remained 1 shilling per year (i.e. 1 penny per month).

The First Congress formally deliniated the role of the General Council.

https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/eam/fi/firstinternational.html