By Keaton Mansfield, Center for Political Innovation

The “New Left,” born out of the hippie era and social justice movements of the 1960’s, has been a disaster for the socialist cause.

When the Communist Party USA was founded in 1919, it quickly became a political force to be reckoned with. Through the formation of unemployment councils and independent labor unions, CPUSA’s membership skyrocketed. Henry Wallace, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Vice President, had a relatively friendly relationship with the Communist Party.

The early American left understood the importance of populism. It understood the need to win as many people as possible to socialist politics through programs designed to raise the standard of living and quality of life. Through this, the Party quickly became a formidable political force.

The United States government realized the potential of the Communist Party and decided to first act with hard power. The House Un-American Activities Committee and the McCarthy era was a horrific time of political repression for communists in the United States. American communist leaders such as Foster, Browder, and Hall faced imprisonment for their political standing, often from legal technicalities to ensure their conviction.

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