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The Belgian strikes of 1886, occasionally known as the social revolt of 1886 (french: Révolte sociale de 1886), was a violent period of industrial
strikes and
riots in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
from 18 to 29 March 1886 and an important moment in
Belgium's 19th-century history. The strike or
labour revolt A labour revolt or worker's uprising is a period of civil unrest characterised by strong labour militancy and strike activity. The history of labour revolts often provides the historical basis for many advocates of Marxism, communism, socialism an ...
was provoked by social inequalities in Belgian society and has compared to the
peasant jacqueries of the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
.
Strike
The strike of 1886 originated as a small gathering organised by
anarchists
Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of all justifications for authority and seeks to abolish the institutions it claims maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including, though not necessari ...
in
Liège to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune (french: Commune de Paris, ) was a revolutionary government that seized power in Paris, the capital of France, from 18 March to 28 May 1871.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the French National Guard had defended ...
on 18 March. The call met with unexpected support, partly as a result of the
ongoing economic downturn and harsh winter. Between 800-900 workers, many from the city's metal works, attended the initial demonstration led by August Wagener. Rather than abating, the strike soon spread across Belgium's industrial regions to the
Province of Hainaut
Hainaut (, also , , ; nl, Henegouwen ; wa, Hinnot; pcd, Hénau), historically also known as Heynowes in English, is a province of Wallonia and Belgium.
To its south lies the French department of Nord, while within Belgium it borders (clock ...
. In Hainaut, it was notably led by the radical socialist
Alfred Defuisseaux.
The 1886 strike became famous for its violence. A
glass factory
Glass is a non-crystalline, often transparent, amorphous solid that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most often formed by rapid cooling (quenching) of ...
that had been known for automating its production was destroyed by rioters. The
Belgian Army
The Land Component ( nl, Landcomponent, french: Composante terre) is the land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Pierre Gérard. ...
was deployed to the region and two "classes" of
reservists
A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is ...
were called up. Several dozen people were killed in confrontations with the Army,
Garde Civique
The ''Garde Civique'' or ''Burgerwacht'' (French and Dutch; "Civic Guard") was a Belgian paramilitary militia which existed between 1830 and 1920. Created in October 1830 shortly after the Belgian Revolution, the Guard amalgamated the various ...
and
Gendarmerie. Ten workers were killed in a single incident in
Roux
Roux () is a mixture of flour and fat cooked together and used to thicken sauces. Roux is typically made from equal parts of flour and fat by weight. The flour is added to the melted fat or oil on the stove top, blended until smooth, and cook ...
, near
Charleroi, on 29 March. The 1886 revolt has been described by modern historians as "the biggest and most violent strike wave ever to sweep across industrial
Wallonia
Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—alo ...
".
Although the strike failed to achieve any tangible objectives, it is considered by historians to be the first time the Belgian
working class
The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colo ...
achieved significant concessions from the national government. A parliamentary Labour Commission (''Enquête du Travail'') was created which led to the first
labour legislation in Belgian history. Two leaders of the glassmakers union, blamed for the damage, were defended in court by the future Walloon socialist politician
Jules Destrée. They were found guilty but granted an amnesty in 1888.
Politically, the strikes led to the emergence of
a parliamentary socialist party which aimed to redirect workers' demands away from violence and towards the cause of
electoral reform
Electoral reform is a change in electoral systems which alters how public desires are expressed in election results. That can include reforms of:
* Voting systems, such as proportional representation, a two-round system (runoff voting), instant-r ...
. This led to a decisive break between socialists and the
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
. Defuisseaux was expelled from the Belgian Workers' Party and established his own radical socialist party, the
Parti Socialiste Républicaine. He also published a hugely successful pamphlet entitled ''Le catéchisme du peuple'' (''The People's Catechism''). The 1886 strikes led to the rapid expansion of the
trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...
s across Belgium. The Liberals also splintered politically, leading to the creation of a separate, new and more radical party, the
Parti Progressiste under
Paul Janson, which would remain separate until 1900. For the governing centre-right
Catholic Party of
Auguste Beernaert, the strikes led to a change of ideology towards
social Catholicism
Catholic social teaching, commonly abbreviated CST, is an area of Catholic doctrine concerning matters of human dignity and the common good in society. The ideas address oppression, the role of the state, subsidiarity, social organization, co ...
. It was followed by further strikes in 1887, 1890 and 1891, as well as
a general strike in 1893.
In the aftermath of the strike, 27 supposed leaders (including Defuisseaux) were tried before the
court of assizes
A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordanc ...
in
Mons in May 1889. Highly publicized, collapsed when it emerged that the
''Sûreté Publique'' had infiltrated the radical group, acting as ''
agents provocateurs
An agent provocateur () is a person who commits, or who acts to entice another person to commit, an illegal or rash act or falsely implicate them in partaking in an illegal act, so as to ruin the reputation of, or entice legal action against, the ...
''.
See also
*
General strikes in Belgium
Since 1893, there have been a number of general strikes in Belgium. Occasioned by the emergence of the labour movement and socialism in Belgium, general strikes have been an enduring part of Belgian political life. Originally intended to encourage ...
*
Bloody Sunday (1887)
Bloody Sunday took place in London on 13 November 1887, when marchers protesting about unemployment and coercion in Ireland, as well as demanding the release of MP William O'Brien, clashed with the Metropolitan Police and the British Army. T ...
in the United Kingdom
*
Belgium in the long nineteenth century
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the ...
References
Bibliography
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External links
{{commonscat, Belgian strike of 1886
Les émeutes ouvrières de mars 1886at Charleroi-Decouverte (official website)
History of Wallonia
Anarchism in Belgium
Socialism in Belgium
1886 labor disputes and strikes
1886 in Belgium
Riots and civil disorder in Belgium
Labour disputes in Belgium
March 1886 events