Spreading Rebellion: Spanish Maritime Radicalism in the Americas, 18751930 [Paperback]

Solidarity from the high seas to South American, Caribbean, and North American ports.

The Atlantic world in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a space of contradiction and hope. From New York to Havana to Buenos Aires,Spreading Rebelliondocuments the activities of migrant laborers from Spain who contributed to the genesis, development, and consolidation of maritime unionism. The rise of steamships in the late nineteenth century brought a massive increase in global transport, along with a ballooning international workforce. Coexistence onboard through shared working and living conditions contributed to solidarity among seafarers, while power exercised through their mobility helped stimulate the process of organizing dockworkers on land. Alonso and Struthers focus keenly on how this multilingual and multiracial workforce imbued their movement with an anticapitalist ethos. These dynamics animated aggressive campaigns for legislative reforms, and fights for workplace control with unions such as the Industrial Workers of the World.Spreading Rebellionis, above all, a transnational history that moves away from statist frames of reference.

Bieito Alonsois a retired geography and history professor. Alonso lives in Tui, Spain, and is a contributor to the collectionWobblies of the World: A Global History of the IWW.

David M. Struthersis a historian, social scientist, professional writer, and editor. He is author ofThe World in a Cityand coeditor ofWobblies of the World. 

"Spreading Rebellionis a major contribution to Atlantic history, labor history, and the vibrant new area of study called 'maritime radicalism.' Three cheers for Bieito Alonso and David M. Struthers, who reveal the power and agency of Spanish maritime workers in exciting and original ways." —Marcus Rediker, coauthor ofThe Many-Headed Hydra: Sailors, Slaves, Commoners, and tlƒŒ