Those Labors Dreamt: The American Demise of the First International

The Tinderbox Podcast

The World's Fair came to Philadelphia in 1876 to celebrate the rise of global capitalism. But during the heat of the festivities, a group of men gathered in mourning, foreclosing on the possibility of a globalized labor party. In this podcast, we'll examine the ignoble death of the First International Workingmen's Association in Philadelphia. You'll hear about the philosophical clash between anarchists and communists, the shift of the First International to the American continent, and meet some of the more interesting American rabble rousers running around during the 19th century.