Working Men's Party
Encyclopedia
The Working Men's Party, nicknamed the "Workies", founded in 1828, was the first labor union
in the United States
, located in Philadelphia. They promoted free public education
as a way out of poverty. They also demanded a 10–11-hour work period and universal male suffrage. The Working Men's Party was created to “promote the interests and enlightenment of the working classes”. Their main purpose was to provide financial support to journeymen striking against their masters. The Working Men’s Party rejected the beliefs of the Jacksonians
.
In December 1829, George Henry Evans wrote "The Working Men's Declaration of Independence" which made the point that the working class had inalienable rights just as any other class in society did. Like the colonists, the working class will suffer evils done to them by the government only up to a point. But after many abuses, it is time to use all constitutional means available to working-class men to reform the government and protect their right to equal economic opportunity.
They called for new programs and changes in the American society not talked about by the Jacksonians. They also called for a new, tax-supported school system to replace the old schools, an end to imprisonment for debt, and legislation limiting work to ten hours a day. The Working Men’s Party disintegrated five years after its creation. There were many reasons for its downfall:
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located in Philadelphia. They promoted free public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
as a way out of poverty. They also demanded a 10–11-hour work period and universal male suffrage. The Working Men's Party was created to “promote the interests and enlightenment of the working classes”. Their main purpose was to provide financial support to journeymen striking against their masters. The Working Men’s Party rejected the beliefs of the Jacksonians
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
.
In December 1829, George Henry Evans wrote "The Working Men's Declaration of Independence" which made the point that the working class had inalienable rights just as any other class in society did. Like the colonists, the working class will suffer evils done to them by the government only up to a point. But after many abuses, it is time to use all constitutional means available to working-class men to reform the government and protect their right to equal economic opportunity.
They called for new programs and changes in the American society not talked about by the Jacksonians. They also called for a new, tax-supported school system to replace the old schools, an end to imprisonment for debt, and legislation limiting work to ten hours a day. The Working Men’s Party disintegrated five years after its creation. There were many reasons for its downfall:
- Newspaper denunciation
- Internal dissension
- Doctrinal squabbles
- Hostility of major parties
- Inexperience of their leadership
- The absorption of their party into the other major parties