Working Men's Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (June 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The Working Men's Party, 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. They called for new programs and changes in the American society not talked about by the Jacksonians. They also called for a new, free, tax-supported school system to replace the old schools. The Working Men’s Party disintegrated five years after its creation. There were many reasons for its downfall: • Newspaper denunciation • Internal dissention • Doctrinal squabbles • Hostility of major parties • Inexperience of their leadership • The absorption of their party into the other major parties