International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress, London 1896


The International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress held in London from July 26 - August 1, 1896 was the fourth congress of the Second International. The congress has been described as "the most agitated, the most tumultuous, and the most chaotic of all the congresses of the Second International" because of the many factional disputes between and within the national delegations.
The congress was the only one of the Second International to have its proceedings published in English. The chairman was Henry Hyndman.
Country# of delegatesNotes
Germany48Representing the Social Democratic Party
Great Britain475Representing the Social Democratic Federation, Fabian Society, Miners' Federation of Great Britain
Austria6
Australia1The Australians had deputized a London doctor to represent them Represented the Australian Socialist League.
Bohemia1
Bulgaria4
Belgium19
Denmark7
Spain6
United States7
France129
Netherlands13
Hungary3
Italy13
Poland13
Portugal1
Romania1
Russia7
Sweden2
Switzerland12

Resolutions

The Congress passed resolutions on the Agrarian question, political action, education, the position of the working class regarding militarism, the industrial question and the further organization of social democracy. It also passed motions regarding the independence of Cuba, Macedonia and Armenia, tsarism, monarchism, and adopted a special address from the Bulgarian Social Democrats.