France 1895

Synopsis

In Europe the development and institutionalization of the workers' movement at both national and international levels marked the end of the nineteenth century. In France the first national trade union center, the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), saw the light of day in 1895 at the end of a long process of transformation of preexisting structures. A gradual clarification of objectives, means, and forms of workers' struggle led to the differentiation of workers' political activities from their union activities and to the creation of distinct organizations to represent each side.

Three factors particularly contributed to the character of the CGT. First, the relatively slow processes of industrialization and urbanization meant that right up to the end of the nineteenth century, the...