The American Communist Party was one of the most influential political powers in the history of the U.S.. At the same time, the country lived in the turbulent times of the mid-20th century, and it was a crucial force in shaping the political discourse and the activists, particularly in the United States. The book “The Age of McCarthyism” by Ellen Schrecker not only analyzes the beginning, progression, and final fall of the ACP but also relates that issue to one of the most dominant themes in American history. This reflection will cover the central themes of the American Civil Association as seen in Schrecker’s book, analyzing its organizational operations, ideological basis, and the American civic society.
The ACP’s relationship with the Soviet Union was closer, which dictates that they were frequently involved together. Thus, this event had an immense effect on gaining the acceptance of the ACP among the Anglo-American population. Schrecker claims that even though the ACP always did what the Soviet Union needed and did not talk too much about their inside-party activities, many people thought they were up to something very bad and could not be trusted. The identifier made it easy for the government to track them down. As a result, during McCarthyism, they have often become victims (Deery & Schrecker 5). The ACP stayed the same while they were clearly causing trouble; it was crystal clear that the Soviet Union and the United States did not have an understanding between them (Dabaschke 235). Due to this, they had only a few of them who were side by side with them to help. This shows us that if you stick too closely to one way of doing things and do not talk to other people, you might end up alone and in trouble.
Thus, Schrecker’s study demonstrates that the ACP’s success was determined largely by the organizational pattern of the agency. The party focused a lot on observing its regulations and driving its supporters to work ceaselessly to promote a single cause. In spite of being a small organization, the ACP was powerful due to its systematic methods. Moreover, ACP violence was brought under control with the contribution of members, who were dedicated to resolving social issues and labor movements aimed at improving labor conditions. Nevertheless, the negative aspects of the party related to its secretive nature, such as insufficient transparency concerning the membership and activities, undermined the trust of the party and were weaponized by its opponents (Deery & Schrecker 7). The closedness of the ACP and its tendency to block critics from openly criticizing them also made it easy for its critics to discredit it and literally undermine its credibility (Buhle 10). As is reflected in the ACP’s case, the legitimacy and the possibility of carrying out credible security tasks in the external environment can only be recovered if we take steps to win the public’s trust and transparency (Dabaschke 234). Hence, ACP’s failure proves valuable for everyone who shows that some groups who try to succeed but fail because of secrecy will get rid of transparency, and grassroots movements will not develop.
The Great Depression and World War II resulted in a lot of changes in society. The ACP changed, too. According to Schrecker, in the atmosphere in which people across the United States started accepting the idea of spreading fascism in Europe, more people started to sympathize with communism. The ACP stood shoulder to shoulder with anti-fascist organizations like the Popular Front in the Spanish Civil War (Deery & Schrecker 10). So many people decided to join the ACP because it made them thirsty for what they asked of the government. However, different ACP organs denied that mandatory socialist economic planning was unavoidable, particularly if the Soviet Union suggested so. For instance, when World War II started, the ACP said that the U.S. would not get involved, but they changed their minds later (Deery & Schrecker 10). This increased the number of people who did not feel confident in the ACP again, and they stopped supporting the ACP. This shows us that even if you are fighting for a good cause, it is important to be consistent and keep your mind the same, or people might not believe in you anymore.
Schrecker explored the events, setting, and dual aspects of ACP during the McCarthy administration. McCarthyism came forward in a way that people really started being scared about communism, and even the government went after people who were suspected of being communists. This was bad news for the ACP and other similar organizations (Deery & Schrecker 11). Schrecker disclosed that as the ACP followed the leadership of the USSR concerning all issues, very few members were informed of their actions; this made them vulnerable to government attacks (Deery & Schrecker 11). Too they were resistant to any changes and certainly did not have the groups as friends, and as a result, they only lived for a short period. This clearly illustrates that if you are not open to new ideas and do not engage with others, you could find yourself in deep trouble when the tough circumstances come.
Lastly, Ellen Schrecker, in her work “The Age of McCarthyism,” brings to light important elements of the history of America. Through his study of ACP’s organizational structure, its ideological base, and the influence it had in American society, Schrecker begins to develop his view of communist activism in the United States. Through her investigation, the audience learns the complex contradictions and challenges that are present in the ACP when they struggle to embark on radical social reform as the conditions for political repression intensify.
Work Cited
Deery, P., & Schrecker, E. (2016). The age of McCarthyism: A brief history with documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/31797/
Dabscheck, Braham. “The Communist Party on the American Waterfront: Revolution, Reform, and the Quest for Power by Vernon L. Pedersen.” Labour History: A Journal of Labour and Social History 121.1 (2021): 234-235. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/105/article/837596/summary
Buhle, Paul. Marxism in the United States: A history of the American left. Verso Books, 2020. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=91qcEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT7&dq=Communist+Party+of+the+United+States+of+America+political+party,+United+States&ots=9_ltaAaw0g&sig=FabayixW4UEbq59FouqbqBy47pY
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