Social Democratic Workers' Party founded at Eisenach (1869)

The Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany (SDAP) was founded in Eisenach from 7 to 9 August 1869. This event established a Marxist socialist party within the North German Confederation, driven by the political radicalism of August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht. The founding congress marked a shift from existing workers' associations to a distinct political organization, setting the stage for the party's early years in the German Empire.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. By 1869, the fast-growing working class of the Industrial Revolution had established several notable associations for workers' advocacy. Some members of the General German Workers' Association followed moderate paths, while others were ready to abandon existing structures to establish a more radical political party. This divergence created the conditions for a new Marxist socialist organization in the North German Confederation.

Key Figures. August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht were the principal founders of the SDAP. Bebel had been elected to the North German Confederation Reichstag in 1867, beginning his parliamentary career. Liebknecht, a social democratic politician and journalist, had served in the Reichstag since 1867. Their long-time political collaboration culminated in the founding of the party, reflecting their shared radicalism.

Ideological Context. The founding occurred in a context where the VDAV had adopted the program of the First International in 1868. Liebknecht argued against parliamentary participation for its own sake, viewing the Reichstag as a 'fig-leaf of absolutism,' but encouraged participation in elections as a tool for agitation. This ideological stance influenced the character of the new party.

People involved

Sources

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