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How did communism spread among young Americans? Explore the secrets of the growth of YCL!
In the United States, young people are increasingly involved in political and social movements, and communist ideas in particular are becoming more influential among young people. This phenomenon is closely related to the young communist organization, the Young Communist League USA (YCL). The organization's goal was to train its members to become communists through the study of socialism and participation in the struggles of the American working class.
“The YCL exists not only to educate young people, but also to actually participate in the current class struggle.”
History Review
The origins of the YCL can be traced back to 1920, when the communist movement in the United States was still in its infancy. The original Young Communist League was a small organization, but its members reported on the situation of American youth at the Second Communist Party Congress in 1921. After several meetings and adjustments, the first YCL convention was held in Bethel, Connecticut in May 1922. The congress attracted fourteen delegates from four regions across the country and marked the birth of the YCL as the official branch of the Communist Youth League.
"We are not preparing young people to participate in the class struggle in the future, but leading them to participate in this struggle now!"
Organizational Structure
YCL's organizational structure is hierarchical, with the basic unit being the "group", which usually consists of five to ten members. These groups meet regularly to stay connected and coordinated, and groups can form "regions" to strengthen the organization's functionality. The admission fee to join the YCL was 50 cents, and monthly dues were 25 cents, recorded by a stamp issued by the national office.
"Every group that is formed is laying the foundation for future revolutions."
Challenges and Reconstruction
The history of YCL has not been smooth. In 1943, the organization disbanded and changed its name to the American Youth for Democracy, thus beginning a new history. However, this change did not represent a change of philosophy in name only, and all key positions were still held by former YCL members.
Contemporary YCL
In 2019, as American society became increasingly interested in socialism, the 31st Congress of the CPUSA passed a resolution to re-establish the YCL. Since its re-establishment, the YCL has faced many challenges, but a new generation of young communists continues to fight against current social issues and strive to promote its ideas in schools and communities.
"The participation of the younger generation will determine the future political landscape."
Conclusion
Behind the spread of communism among American youth is a group of young people who embrace ideals and change. Their existence is not only a continuation of past experience, but also a new exploration of future possibilities. In the face of the current turmoil in global politics, young people are playing an increasingly important role in this struggle. How will young people’s participation affect future social and economic forms?
