The Social Democrats and the Unification of Germany, 1863-71

Abstract

ance upon the political stage of two labor parties. These were the General Association of German Workers (Allgerneiner Deutseker ArDeiterverein), or Lassallean party, organized in 1 86S, and the Social Democratic Workers' party (Soztaldernokratische Arbeiterpartei), or Eisenach party, in 1869. In other words, the foundations of the Social Democratic party, which eventually was formed by the union of these two groups, were laid beside those of a united Germany. Constant interaction and conflict between nation and party resulted, until in 1918 the Bismarokian empire crumbled before the assault of the Social Democrats, after its walls had been undermined by such a war as they had often prophesied would result from Bismarok's policies. But if the Social Democratic party was in time to exert great influence upon the empire, the unification of Germany was hardly less significant for the development of the party. The German question provided one of the basic issues which kept the two branches of the labor movement apart until 1875. It was not that either opposed unification. On the contrary, both ardently desired it, in order to end the division and impotence of the fatherland, to strengthen its economy, and to sweep away the obstacles presented by the existence of many states to a strong labor movement. Moreover, there was substantial agreement between the two groups as to the ideal solution of the German question. While the leaders of the General Association, however, long acquiesced in the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership, the progenitors of the Eisenach