“Façamos nós com nossas mãos tudo que a nós nos diz respeito”: a história do anarquismo e do sindicalismo revolucionário em Alagoas (1906-1920)

Abstract

This is a study on anarchism and revolutionary syndicalism in Alagoas, between 1906 and 1920. It discusses the experience of anarchists, having as main source the workers and anarchist newspapers, as well fragments of other nespapers and documents, such as correspondence and circular, essential for the crossing of information. It analyzes how the anarchists’ articulation process took place and what means they acted on. Anarchism, as na idea, began to circulate in the workers’ movement in Alagoas, before 1906. It was the subject oj debate, both internally, in the workers’ movement, and among workers’ militans and representatives of de bourgeoisie. In some cases, anarchism was viewed negatively by both. However, there was the possibility thatanarchist ideas couldinfluence other workers. With the foundation of the workers class organizations, Working Union of Alagoas (UOA) and the Federation of Workers of Alagoas (FOA), with their participacion in the Brazilian Workers’ Congresses, in 1906 and 1913, there was na approximation with revolutionary syndicalism and with the anarchism. It was in the context of FOA functioning that there was a more accentuated anarchist performance, based on the strategy of revolutionary sindicalism. These anachists from Alagoas were organizationsts, they worked in the FOA, in the Brazilian Working Confederation (COB) and in their unions, where they fought alongside workers of different political-ideological affiliations. In 1916 and 1917, they were responsible for publishing newspapers and sought to found libertarian groups. They were articulated around the events of the conjuncture of Brazil and of the world, between 1917 and 1919, which pointed to a radical rupture. In this way, they suffered repression and persecution. Also, in the early 1920s, they participated in the refoundation of FOA and supported the ideas of direct action.