Socialist Labor Party

Socialist Labor party, in the United States, begun in 1877 by New York City socialists. Its membership came largely from German-American workingmen. During the 1880s a national organization was established and the party concentrated, unsuccessfully, on electoral politics. The depression conditions of the 1890s brought it renewed strength, and, under the leadership of Daniel De Leon, a Marxist revolutionary, it emphasized militant labor activities and organized (1896) its own union. After many members who opposed the leadership of De Leon withdrew (1899) and joined the less militant Social Democratic party (see Socialist party), the Socialist Labor party did not regain its previous importance.

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Socialist Labor Party 

(SLP), a socialist party of the USA, founded in 1876; called the Workingmen’s Party of America until 1877. In the late 1870’s the leading positions in the Socialist Labor Party were seized by the Lassalleans. A change in the SLP’s political line became noticeable in the late 1880’s, as the party cultivated closer ties with the labor movement. However, in the late 1890’s, sectarian and syndicalist elements again became dominant. The revolutionary wing of the SLP welcomed Russia’s October Revolution but the party’s leaders called the revolution “premature.” The revolutionary wing then left the SLP to join the communist movement. Subsequently, membership of the SLP declined and the party was mainly linked with the intelligentsia.