New York Communist Club
Political party in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New York Communist Club was a communist organisation set up in New York City in 1857. It was particularly active in the abolitionist struggle.[1]
Communist Club of New York | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Friedrich Sorge Albert Komp Abraham Jacobi |
| Founded | October 25, 1857 |
| Dissolved | July 2, 1867 |
| Preceded by | American Workers League |
| Merged into | International Workingmen's Association in America |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Ideology | Communism Humanism Abolitionism |
| Political position | Far-left |
Around 30 German immigrants formed the New York Communist Club on October 25, 1857, at a meeting at 148 Fulton Street, New York City. It was the only socialist organization before the American Civil War that allowed black people to join.[2] Friedrich Sorge, Albert Komp and Abraham Jacobi were involved in forming the organisation.[3] The Club adopted as a fundamental principle that "every [doctrine] not founded on the perception of concrete objects" should be rejected.[4] They also stated: "We recognize no distinction as to nationality or race, caste, or status, color, or sex; our goal is but reconciliation of all human interests, freedom, and happiness for mankind, and the realization and unification of a world republic."[5]
The club did not hold any meetings during the Civil War as so many of its members joined the Union army. Fritz Jacobi, vice-president of the club, died at the Battle of Fredericksburg.[6]
In 1867, the New York Communist Club affiliated as Section 1 of the International Workingmen's Association.[7][8]