May Day and Internationalism across the Labour Movement, 1890-1914 : Working-class Unity in Britain, Australia, and the USA (Palgrave Studies in the History of Social Movements)

This book traces the development of May Day, a demonstration and annual celebration of internationalism, unity, and peace for the labour movement and working class. Also known as International Workers Day or Labour Day, May Day has been observed globally on 1st May since 1890. Focusing on three key sites London, Melbourne, and New York the book highlights May Day s interconnected local and international character. Comparing demonstrations across these cities, the author shows how May Day evolved locally while developing across the Anglosphere, revealing the labour movement s constitution, strength, ideals, and objectives.

Although rooted in internationalism, May Day was shaped by each city s socio economics, labour politics, working class culture, and urban environment. Alongside these local expressions emerged an idealised May Day drawing on traditional, seasonal, pagan, and medieval imagery shared across the Anglosphere. Examining the internationalism articulated on May Day, the book connects collective identity, socialism, and the working class in opposition to capitalism and imperialism. It also highlights the transnational influence of socialist artwork and poetry, featuring extensive pieces by Walter Crane, works by William Morris, and contributions from other artists.

Finally, the book explores how traditional May Day customs informed labour demonstrations and shaped participants understandings of them. Through a comprehensive cultural analysis of the labour movement, it offers insights into how working class celebrations, demonstrations, artwork, and stories expressed their values and struggles. It is a valuable resource for historians of transnational labour movements, cultural and intellectual history, global urban history, and memory studies.

.- Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. May Day in London: May Day as a Reflection of the Labour Movement and Working-class Community.- Chapter 3. May Day in Melbourne: The Struggle for Unity and Tensions of Government.- Chapter 4. May Day in New York: Nationalism and Internationalism.- Chapter 5. Comparative and Transnational Examination of May Day Demonstrations across London, Melbourne, and New York.- Chapter 6. The Origins of May Day: Its Ancient and Traditional Roots.- Chapter 7. May Day s Internationalism.- Chapter 8. Conclusion.- Appendix A Attendance at Demonstrations.

Aloysisus Landrigan completed his undergraduate at La Trobe University before graduating with a master of arts and a doctorate from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has published articles on the Paris Commune, its celebration, and its influence on socialist thought. This is his first book.