Working-class political movements first emerged in response to terrible working conditions and economic inequality between the bourgeoisie and proletariat in the 19th century. Early movements like the Luddites and Chartists failed to achieve political change through destruction of machinery and demands for voting reforms. The first international workers' organizations and left-wing ideologies developed by Marx and Bakunin advocated for class struggle and workers collectively fighting oppression through communist revolution or anarchist communes and direct action. However, these movements struggled to unite due to ideological differences.

1. Working-class political
movements
Causes, first political movements and
scientific ideologies

3. 1. Causes
1. Big differences between the bourgeoisie and the
proletariat.
2. Terrible working conditions:
● Accidents with machinery
● Exhausting working days (14-16 hours)
● Employers could dismiss workers freely
● No right to strike
● No social insurance or benefits in case of illness or
unemployment

5. 2. The Factory Acts
Were laws passed in Great Britain to regulate
child labour.
1. No children under 9 could work in a factory
2. Between 9-13 years could only work up to 9
hours a day.
3. 2 hours of schooling a day
4. Not work at night

8. 3. The origins of the
working-class politics
1. The Luddites emerged in 1811. They used to destroy the machinery.
They thought that their horrible situation was provoked by that
machinery.
2. Trade Unions, appeared in the 1830’s. They were organized by
labour: miner trade union, textile trade union, etc. They support their
members.
3. Chartist movement. 1838. Demanded political changes (universal
manhood suffrage). They ask for changes to the bourgeois parties.
They all failed

9. The Luddites

13. View of the Great Chartist Meeting on Kennington Common, 1848

14. 4. Left-wing ideologies
Marxism
Developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Ideology based on:
1. Class struggle: the oppressed proletariat must organise itself
and fight the capitalist oppressor.
2. The dictatorship of the proletariat: a temporary period in
which the proletariat redistribute wealth in an equally way.
3. Communism: the perfect society where everyone is equal.

16. Anarchism
Developed by Mikhail Bakunin
Based on:
1. Individual freedom: fight against any authority (state,
Church)
2. Communes: Small groups where people share
everything together
3. Direct action: the revolution must be individual, with
direct actions and not controlled by any political party.
This led to terrorism.

18. 6. The First International
● 1864-1876
● This meeting brought together workers’ organisations from
various countries.
● Objective: promote collective action by workers all over the
world.
● It failed because of the differences between Marxists and
Anarchists.