ABSTRACT
In 1864 Marx was glad to see that at last there was "evidently a revival of the working classes taking place". 3 In England local trades councils - a new type of labour organisation - were being established and the workers were supporting an agitation aimed at promoting the extension of the franchise. A group of trade union officials, all working in London - William Allan, Robert Applegarth, Daniel Guile, Edwin Coulson and George Odger - played a dominant role in the labour movement at this time. This "Junta" had virtually gained control over the London Trades Council by 1864. In Germany Lassalle established the General German Workers' Union, while in France 60 workers in Paris signed a public declaration demanding the election of working-class representatives to the legislature. In 1864 the Working Men's International Association was founded in London and it was through this organisation that Marx hoped to "re-electrify the political movement of the working class".4
