Workingman's Party
Encyclopedia
The Workingman's Party was a California
labor organization led by Denis Kearney in the 1870s. The party took particular aim against Chinese
immigrant labor and the Central Pacific Railroad
which employed them. Its famous slogan was "The Chinese must go!" They held large Sunday afternoon rallies in the plaza in front of San Francisco's City Hall (only a few blocks from Chinatown). Attendance at these rallies peaked at the end of the nineteenth century. Kearney's attacks against the Chinese were of a particularly virulent and open racism
, and found considerable support among white
Californians of the time. This sentiment led eventually to the Chinese Exclusion Act
.
Kearney's party should not be confused with another party based in the east of the United States called the Workingmen's Party, whose best-known leader (after they reorganized as the Socialist Labor Party) was American Marxist Daniel DeLeon. Both parties drew their name from an older, non-racist Working Men's Party
formed in 1829 by utopian socialists Robert Owen
and Frances Wright
, most of whose members joined the Whig Party
, whereafter the original Working Man's Party collapsed.
Kearney's racism was also not echoed by the Workingmen's Party of the United States
, who blamed racism on the competition for jobs among the multicultural American workforce, and thus one of the many evils (along with crime, poverty, sexism etc.) which they saw capitalism as being responsible for.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
labor organization led by Denis Kearney in the 1870s. The party took particular aim against Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
immigrant labor and the Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
which employed them. Its famous slogan was "The Chinese must go!" They held large Sunday afternoon rallies in the plaza in front of San Francisco's City Hall (only a few blocks from Chinatown). Attendance at these rallies peaked at the end of the nineteenth century. Kearney's attacks against the Chinese were of a particularly virulent and open racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, and found considerable support among white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
Californians of the time. This sentiment led eventually to the Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese Exclusion Act (United States)
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law signed by Chester A. Arthur on May 8, 1882, following revisions made in 1880 to the Burlingame Treaty of 1868. Those revisions allowed the U.S. to suspend immigration, and Congress subsequently acted quickly to implement the suspension of...
.
Kearney's party should not be confused with another party based in the east of the United States called the Workingmen's Party, whose best-known leader (after they reorganized as the Socialist Labor Party) was American Marxist Daniel DeLeon. Both parties drew their name from an older, non-racist Working Men's Party
Working Men's Party
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...
formed in 1829 by utopian socialists Robert Owen
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
and Frances Wright
Frances Wright
Frances Wright also widely known as Fanny Wright, was a Scottish-born lecturer, writer, freethinker, feminist, abolitionist, and social reformer, who became a U. S. citizen in 1825...
, most of whose members joined the Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
, whereafter the original Working Man's Party collapsed.
Kearney's racism was also not echoed by the Workingmen's Party of the United States
Workingmen's Party of the United States
The Workingmen's Party of the United States , established in 1876, was one of the first Marxist-influenced political parties in the United States...
, who blamed racism on the competition for jobs among the multicultural American workforce, and thus one of the many evils (along with crime, poverty, sexism etc.) which they saw capitalism as being responsible for.