The International Workingmen's Association (IWA) or International Workers' Association (1864–1876), often called the First International, was an international organization which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing socialist, communist and anarchist political groups and trade union organizations that were based on the working class and class struggle. It was founded in 1864 in a workmen's meeting held in Saint Martin's Hall, London. Its first congress was held in 1866 in Geneva.
In Europe, a period of harsh reaction followed the widespread Revolutions of 1848. The next major phase of revolutionary activity began almost twenty years later with the founding of the IWA in 1864. At its peak, the IWA had 5 million members according to the police reports, although the official journal reported 8 million members.
Read more about International Workingmen's Association: St. Martin's Hall Meeting, London, 1864, The Geneva Congress, 1866, The Lausanne Congress, 1867, The Brussels Congress, 1868, The Basle Congress, 1869, The Hague Congress, 1872, After 1872
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