Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-208) and index.

Why has there been no viable, independent labor party in the United States? Many people assert "American exceptionalist" arguments, which state a lack of class-consciousness and union tradition among American workers is to blame. While the racial, ethnic, and gender divisions within the American working class have created organizational challenges for the working class, Moody uses archival research to argue that despite their divisions, workers of all ethnic and racial groups in the Gilded Age often displayed high levels of class consciousness and political radicalism. In place of "American exceptionalism, " Moody contends that high levels of internal migration during the late 1800's created instability in the union and political organizations of workers. Because of the tumultuous conditions brought on by the uneven industrialization of early American capitalism, millions of workers became migrants, moving from state to state and city to city. The organizational weakness that resulted undermined efforts by American workers to build independent labor-based parties in the 1880s and 1890s. Using detailed research and primary sources; Moody traces how it was that 'pure-and-simple' unionism would triumph by the end of the century despite the existence of a significant socialist minority in organized labor at that time. Kim Moody was a founder of Labor Notes and is the author of On New Terrain (Haymarket Books, 2017).
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

With the rise of groups like Democratic Socialists of America and the push to form political parties to the left of the Democrats, questions often arise about why there is not a labor or socialist party tradition in America. Prominent labor historian Kim Moody tackles this question using extensive research and presents the argument that while American history has deep radical roots but because of specific migratory patterns in the late 1800's none of those roots were able to take hold in a lasting, institutionalized way. This book will appeal to activists, historians and students looking to better understand why the American political system is in many "exceptional" when compared to its European counterparts.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)