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The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was a radical labor organization founded in Chicago in 1905 that was most active between the turn of the century and the 1930s. The Wobblies, as they were known, believed there must be radical changes in American capitalism to improve the oppressive conditions that workers faced, including an overthrow of the employing class. Many IWW members believed in socialist or communist ideology and some advocated whatever means necessary to effect change, including sabotage and violence. The Seattle chapter of the IWW was also founded in 1905 and contributed to the city’s reputation as a hotbed of labor radicalism. The local office showed a keen interest in labor and Wobbly-related activities across the nation, but most of its activities focused on organizing labor within the state. The Wobblies experienced a decline in popularity beginning during World War II, and the decline continued due to the anti-Communist sentiment of post-war America. As it was no longer able to function effectively, the Seattle IWW office closed in 1965. However, the national IWW is still active today.