ABSTRACT
TheideaofageneralstrikefirstarosewithintheworkingclassitselfinEngland,wheretheIndustrialRevolutionwasmostadvanced.In 1792aneducatedScottishshoemaker,ThomasHardy,beganaLondon Correspondingsociety,whichsoonfoundedbranchesinmanufacturing centersintheMidlandsandinScotland;itmightbecalledthe"first independentpoliticalworkingclassmovementinhistory."10By1795, whenmanyofitsleaderswereimprisoned,thesocietyhad8o,ooo members.AndinOctober1795,itwasabletorally15o,oooworkers todemonstrateagainstPittandhiswaronrevolutionaryFrance;subsequentlythetraditionspreadthroughtheUnitedIrishmen,whichdrew upplansforamassinvasiontoliberateIrelandwiththeaidofFrench revolutionaryforces.
