<P> The Workingmen's Party of the United States (WPUS), established in 1876, was one of the first Marxist - influenced political parties in the United States . It is remembered as the forerunner of the Socialist Labor Party of America . </P> <P> The WPUS was formed in 1876, when a congress of socialists from around the United States met in Philadelphia in an attempt to unify their political power . Seven societies sent representatives, and within four days the party was formed under the name of the Workingmen's Party of the United States . The party, composed mostly of foreign - born laborers, represented a collection of socialist ideas from different groups, most notably followers of Karl Marx and Ferdinand Lassalle . The Lassallean faction believed in forming a Socialist political party to advance their agenda incrementally through the electoral process . Marxian Socialists, however, opposed to reformism believed in forming a Socialist party as an instrument of organization of the proletariat to propagate consciousness leading to an ultimate revolutionary seizing of state power . They championed strong trade unions, strikes, and boycotts to develop class consciousness through class conflict . </P> <P> The party at first had little influence over any politics in the United States on a national or local level . Much like the International Workingmen's Association before it, the WPUS was widely viewed as socialistic . However, during the railroad strikes during the summer of 1877, the party, led by the charismatic and well - spoken American Albert Parsons, showed some of its power by rallying support for the striking railroad workers . </P>

What was the purpose for the creation of the workingmen's party