America and the Scottish Left : the impact of American ideas on the Scottish Labour Movement from the American Civil War to World War One
The years 1861 to 1921 witnessed the development of contacts between the labour movements of Britain and the United States. Scottish socialists, trade unionists and social reformers contributed to this activity. Transatlantic labour co-operation began in Scotland in the 1860s when the Civil War in the USA provoked an intense public discussion of American society. This interest was further stimulated by the accounts of emigrants to the republic and, in particular, by the views of Alexander McDonald, leader of the miners' union. The establishment of ties between the mining communities of Scotland and American, via an emigration scheme and through McDonald's lecture tours, inaugurated a period of American influence on the Scottish labour movement. Left-wing reactions in the United States to the growth of capitalism from the 1880s to the First World War furnished sections of this movement with a series of organisational models. Socialist and reform theories, forged in a country which was industrialising at a furious pace, were transmitted to Britain where Scots transformed them for their own purposes. Beginning with the ideas of Henry George, and closely followed by those of the Knights of Labor, these concepts
Frame, John R.
Labour movement ; Political culture
America and the Scottish Left : the impact of American ideas on the Scottish Labour Movement from the American Civil War to World War One. The years 1861 to 1921 witnessed the development of contacts between the labour movements of Britain and the United States. Scottish socialists, trade unionists and social reformers contributed to this activity. Transatlantic labour co-operation began in Scotland in the 1860s when the Civil War in the USA provoked an intense public discussion of American society. This interest was further stimulated by the accounts of emigrants to the republic and, in particular, by the views of Alexander McDonald, leader of the miners' union. The establishment of ties between the mining communities of Scotland and American, via an emigration scheme and through McDonald's lecture tours, inaugurated a period of American influence on the Scottish labour movement. Left-wing reactions in the United States to the growth of capitalism from the 1880s to the First World War furnished sections of this movement with a series of organisational models. Socialist and reform theories, forged in a country which was industrialising at a furious pace, were transmitted to Britain where Scots transformed them for their own purposes. Beginning with the ideas of Henry George, and closely followed by those of the Knights of Labor, these concepts
america scottish left impact american idea scottish labour movement american civil war world war witness development contact labour_movement britain united_states scottish socialist trade unionist social_reformer contribute activity transatlantic labour co_operation begin scotland civil_war usa provoke intense public_discussion american society interest stimulate account emigrant republic particular view alexander leader miner union establishment tie mine community scotland american via emigration scheme lecture tour period american influence_scottish labour_movement left_wing reaction united_states growth capitalism first_world_war furnish section movement series organisational model socialist reform theory forge country industrialise pace transmit britain scots transform purpose beginning idea henry george closely follow concept