ABSTRACT
The Social Democratic Federation demanded social revolution. It took its stand on the principle that no great or permanent benefit to society can result until the payment of wages by one class to another ceases. Karl Marx lived and wrote in England and based much of his analysis of historical materialism on British Blue Books, but it was not until the formation of the Social Democratic Federation in 1881 that there was any clearly recognized support of his ideas in England. To the only avowed Marxist organization in England, the Social Democratic Federation, led by H. M. Hyndman—of the top-hat and frock-coat and revolutionary philosophy- social trends and problems grouped themselves easily under general categories. The work of the Federation showed that ‘respectable’ people could be vitally concerned about social conditions and could ‘agitate.’ In the early days the Fabian Society was no less revolutionary than the Social Democratic Federation.
