161 years ago today, on September 28, 1864 (the 28th of the eighth lunar month), the First International was established.

The First International is the first international proletarian revolutionary organization. Its official name is the "International Workers 'Association", or the "First International" for short. It is the product of the combination of the international workers 'movement and Marxism.

The European Revolution of 1848 dealt a heavy blow to feudal forces and promoted the further development of the capitalist economies of European countries. The Industrial Revolution swept across the entire European continent. With the development of capitalist large-scale industry, the ranks of the European proletariat also grew rapidly. A worldwide economic crisis broke out in 1857, and the workers 'movement, which was at a low ebb after the failure of the revolution in 1848, rose again. In 1859, the London construction workers 'general strike was won. The following year, trade unions from all walks of life in London united to form a trade union committee. Trade unions such as the Iron Workers 'Union were established in Paris, Marseille and other places in France, and workers also forced the government to cancel laws prohibiting workers from forming associations. In Germany, the All-German Workers 'Federation was established in 1863. At the same time, the working class in Italy, Belgium, and the United States also launched organized activities and strike struggles. The working class of all countries has an increasing desire for international solidarity.

Marx and Engels carried out a large number of theoretical research and revolutionary practical activities to welcome the arrival of the revolutionary climax. Marx carefully summarized the experience and lessons of the revolution of 1848 and wrote "The Class Struggle in France from 1848 to 1850" and "The 18th of the Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte". Engels also wrote "Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Germany" and other books. In the 1850s and 1860s, Marx focused on conducting in-depth research on political economy. In 1859, Marx wrote the first volume of "Critique of Political Economy" and began to write his immortal masterpiece "Das Kapital". At the same time, they also actively publicize and educate British workers and trade union activists, and through them to influence the broad masses of workers. Marx and Engels also paid special attention to cultivating the leading cadres of the international workers 'movement, tried every means to establish extensive contact with revolutionaries in various places, and required them to study hard and master revolutionary theories to welcome the new revolutionary upsurge. Marx and Engels made ideological and organizational preparations for the establishment of a new proletarian international organization.

The major event that directly contributed to the birth of the First International was the national uprising of the Polish people against Tsarist Russian rule in 1863. Marx and Engels attached great importance to the Polish uprising and mobilized the working class in European countries to fully support the Polish people's revolutionary movement. On September 28, 1864, workers 'representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and other countries held a grand international conference in London to once again discuss the issue of solidarity with the Polish people and the joint struggle of international workers. The congress decided to establish an international workers 'organization and elected a provisional central committee. This workers 'organization was later named the "International Workers' Association". Marx drafted two programmatic documents, the Founding Declaration and the Joint Charter, which stipulated the political direction and organizational principles of the International Workers 'Association.

The history of the First International is marked by the struggle between Marxism and various opportunism. After the founding of the First International, it successively fought against Proudonism, trade unionism, and Bakuninism. During its existence, it spread scientific socialism, promoted the development of the workers 'movement, and strengthened the international solidarity of the proletariat. On July 15, 1876, the First International announced its dissolution.