In 1868,
German-speaking members of the
International Workingmen's Association in America (IWA) in
New York City create the (ADAV, General German Labor Association). The SDWP claimed 1500 members, mostly
German immigrants in
New York City. 90% of its members were foreign-born workers. In the 1874 elections, the SDWP performed horribly. This encouraged
Marxists within the organization to promote
trade union membership over electoral participation, which they won at the 1875 convention. In turn, these results enabled the 1876 merger. Although the SDWP's platform contained no explicit reference to
democracy, its successor the
Socialist Labor Party would be the first US political party to demand
initiatives as a plank in their party platform. If dated from the formation of the ADAV, the SDWP was the second socialist party created in the world, after the
General German Workers' Association of
Ferdinand Lassalle. == Endnotes ==