Pietro Gori was a remarkable orator and organized several conferences and debates, helping spread anarchist ideas among workers and intellectuals.[10]
He played a decisive role in the foundation of the Federación Obrera Argentina (FOA) in 1901.[11]
The FOA was a milestone for the labour movement in Argentina.
Soon afterwards, the socialist-oriented unions broke with the FOA and created the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT).
The FOA played a key role in organizing boycotts and strikes, including the first general strike, in 1902.[12]
Anti-anarchist repression became stronger following a series of strikes in 1902, especially with the enactment of the Residence Law (Ley de Residencia), which allowed the authorities to rapidly deport any foreigner involved in subversive actions. Despite the persecution and deportation of hundreds of militants, the movement continued to grow between 1900 and 1910.
Anarchism attracted a great number of workers due to its formidable propaganda. Over the years, several strikes were organized by anarchist groups, attracting massive support from the working class.[13] They managed to mobilize important sectors in Buenos Aires, including construction, railway, and harbour workers. The 1 May protest organized in 1904 attracted around 50,000 demonstrators.[14]
In 1904, on the occasion of its fourth congress, the FOA formalized anarcho-communism as its guiding principle, and became the FORA (Federación Obrera Regional Argentina), including the word “Regional” to symbolize its internationalism.[15] Anarcho-communism remained hegemonic inside the FORA until 1915, when syndicalists gained control of the organization.[16]
The anarchist movement made a significant contribution to the education and growing consciousness of the working class in Argentina, supporting workers’ organizations and contributing to the creation of a proletarian counter-culture that had a fundamental impact on the history of the Argentinian labour movement.[17]
During the first decade of the twentieth century the anarchists managed to mobilize a great number of workers and organized several strikes that had a major impact on important sectors of the economy, including agro-exports and urban services.18] With general strikes being used as a powerful weapon, the country was beset by several conflicts that succeeded in securing improved labour conditions, including better wages and freedom of association.