The Gotha
Unification Party Conference of 1875,
the Gotha Programme
and Marx’s criticism
(simply explained)
What happened before:
The working class earned little money, worked long hours and could barely afford to make a living. Then they organised themselves…
Bild: Borsigs Eisengießerei (Archiv Gothaer Tivoli)
Hard times
From the foundation of the German Empire in 1871, all branches of the labour movement were subject to persecution. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck suppressed the labour movement because it wanted to change prevailing social conditions.
In 1873, an economic crisis hit, exacerbating the plight of the workers.
Bild: Berliner Proletarierwohnung Mitte 19. Jh. (Archiv Gothaer Tivoli)
The labour movement had two directions:
SDAP
- The Social Democratic Labour Party (SDAP, Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei)
- founded in Eisenach in 1869
- Chairmen Wilhelm Liebknecht and August Bebel
- Objectives: establishing of a free people’s state, overcoming the existing relations of production, achieving socialist ideals through international co-operation
Why did the Lassalleans (ADAV) and the Eisenachers (SDAP) unite?
Together we are strong! And we can change society!
Quelle: Wikicommons, Link
So why Gotha as the venue for the unification party conference?
Gotha was situated in the centre. In addition, the law on associations and assemblies was more liberal and, unlike in Prussia, allowed freedom of expression to a certain extent.
Bild: Das Gothaer Tivoli um 1900 (Archiv Gothaer Tivoli)
Sammlung Gothaer Tivoli, Foto: Andreas Kubitza
The unification party conference
From 22 May to 27 May 1875, 74 delegates of the ADAV and 56 delegates of the SDAP met in the hall of the Gotha Tivoli and founded the Socialist Workers‘ Party of Germany (SAP), which later became the SPD.
The 15,322 members of the ADAV plus 9,121 members of the SDAP equalled 24,443 members of the new SAP.
The Joint Programme –
The Gotha Programme
The Gotha Programme
I
General, equal, direct suffrage and voting rights for those aged 20 and over.
Election or voting day must be a Sunday or public holiday.
Quelle: Wikicommons, Link
II
Direct legislation by the people.
Quelle: Archiv Gothaer Tivoli
III
The people decide on war and peace.
Quelle: Bildersammlung LATh-StA Gotha
IV
Volkswehr (militia) instead of a standing army.
In the standing army of the imperial era, all the higher ranks were occupied by nobility and bourgeoisie. The Volkswehr was intended to reflect all population groups at all hierarchical levels.
Quelle: DonnaSenzaFiato/Pixabay, Link
V
Abolition of all laws restricting freedom of expression, thought and research.
Quelle: LATh-StA Gotha, Regierung Erfurt Nr. 497
VI
Jurisdiction by the people and free administration of justice.
Quelle: Ezequiel Octaviano/Pixabay, Link
VII
Universal education of the people provided by the state and mandatory schooling.
Free education in all educational establishments.
Religion as a private matter.
Quelle: congerdesign/Pixabay, Link
The
Socialist Labour Party
of Germany (SAP)
demanded:
1.
Extension of political rights and freedoms.
Bild: Banner der Humanität (LATh-StA Gotha: Regierung Erfurt Nr. 493)
2.
A progressive income tax instead of indirect taxes which burden the people.
Bild: Ausschnitt aus einem Flugblatt (Stadtarchiv Gotha 8.9.1-1605)
3.
Unlimited right to form coalitions. Trade unions are legal (“We want the right to strike”).
Bild von Niek Verlaan auf Pixabay
4.
Normal working day, ban on Sunday work.
Bild: „8 Stunden Arbeit, 8 Stunden Muse, 8 Stunden Schlaf“ (LATh-StA Gotha, Regierung Erfurt Nr. 498)
5.
Prohibition of child labour and all female labour harmful to health and morals.
Bild: Kinderarbeit (Archiv Gothaer Tivoli)
6.
Protective laws for the life and health of workers, improved workers‘ housing. Supervision of mines, factories, workshops and domestic industries by officials elected by workers. Legal liability.
Bild: Gothaer Waggonfabrik (Sammlung Matthias Wenzel)
7.
Regulation of prison labour.
Bild: Gefängnisinsassen (LATh-StA Gotha, Staatsanwaltschaft Gotha Nr. 79, Nr. 15)
8.
Full self-administration for all labour and relief funds.
Bild: Statut der Unterstützungskasse der Schuhmacher (Stadtarchiv Gotha: 1.1/12390, Bl. 30)
Critique of the Gotha Programme
by Karl Marx
by Karl Marx
called „Marginal Notes on the Programme of the German Workers‘ Party“
Karl Marx wrote the Critique of the Gotha Programme in April/May 1875, which was first published in the theoretical journal „Die Neue Zeit“ in 1891.
and further…
“Apart from this, it is my duty not to acknowledge a programme that I am convinced is thoroughly reprehensible and demoralises the party, even by remaining diplomatically silent”
Quelle: Wikicommons, Link
Marx thought that the unification of the workers had come at too high a price, that the programme was useless and that the workers‘ movement would lose momentum by adopting too many of Lassalle’s ideas.
Marx’s criticism, e.g.
Quelle: Wikicommons, Foto von Friedrich Karl Wunder, Link
Labour is not the source of all wealth (as claimed in the programme). Nature is a source, too. Mentioning only labour does not show that the owner of the raw materials (the entrepreneur) keeps the workers dependent and thus they can only work with his permission. They can therefore only gain as much wealth as the entrepreneur allows them to gain.
The iron wage law by Lassalle – the labour wage always settles at the subsistence level. If the wage rises above this, then there are more workers, so the wage falls again. If wages are lower, there are also fewer workers, so wages will rise again. Lassalle’s solution: changes in parliament, therefore extension of voting rights and majority in favour of the workers
Criticism of Marx: all nonsense, improvement of the situation of the workers through industrial action by the unions – STRIKE
According to Marx, a reorganisation of society is not possible without struggle and revolution.
Sammlung Gothaer Tivoli, Foto: Andreas Kubitza
Sammlung Gothaer Tivoli, Foto: Andreas Kubitza
Summary
The unification party conference in Gotha in 1875 created the basis for uniting the forces of the workers‘ movement, which thus grew into a mass movement and improved the situation of workers in Germany.
This was the only way to achieve wage growth, the introduction of health and accident insurance in 1883/84 and old-age and invalidity insurance in 1889.
Sammlung Gothaer Tivoli, Foto: Andreas Kubitza
