{"id":21155,"date":"2021-02-01T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realprogressives.org\/?p=38739"},"modified":"2021-02-01T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T14:00:00","slug":"a-small-band-of-radical-parties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/02\/01\/a-small-band-of-radical-parties\/","title":{"rendered":"A Small Band of Radical Parties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\u201cThe men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.\u201d <\/em> <\/p>H.L. Mencken<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This article is part of a three-part series on the history of parties and partisan politics in America.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity. We have been cursed with the reign of gold long enough. Money constitutes no proper basis of civilization. The time has come to regenerate society \u2014 we are on the eve of universal change.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>Eugene V. Debs.<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In the 20th<\/sup> Century, minor parties were strong and vibrant in America. There were several of them, and they all played a role in pushing the duopoly closer to their positions. Combined with strong, militant unions, the anti-capitalist politics of the 20th<\/sup> century were far more aggressive. There were several minor parties of the American 20th<\/sup> Century. Here are some of the progressive or lefter-still ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Communist Party USA\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Socialist Party of America -> Socialist Party USA\u00a0<\/li>\n
- The Black Panther Party\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Patriot Party\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Peace and Freedom Party\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Solidarity<\/li>\n
- Socialist Workers Party\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Workers World Party\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
There are many more parties, left or otherwise, in the historical record of America. Teddy Roosevelt\u2019s Progressive Party is one of many of those. Today, however, we\u2019ll just discuss the first four of the above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Communist Party USA\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Socialist Party of America -> Socialist Party USA\u00a0<\/li>\n
- The Black Panther Party\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Patriot Party\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Communist Party USA (CPUSA)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founded in 1919, the CPUSA was the result of a post-Russian Revolution split in the Socialist Party of America. Operating underground for years, due to the first Red Scare, they rose to prominence in the Great Depression. Focused heavily on labor organization and the American labor movement of the early 20th<\/sup> century, they became known for opposing racism and racial segregation. Americans flocked to their ranks in the devastation of the Depression-era. By the 1930s, they and their fellows were strong enough to influence Democratic president Franklin Delano Roosevelt into enacting the New Deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe Communists claim the revolutionary traditions of Americanism.\u201d <\/em><\/p>Earl Browder, CPUSA\u00a0<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
After the New Deal period, the CPUSA declined under the onslaught of the second Red Scare and McCarthyism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n