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[[File:American Youth Congress Leaders 1939.jpg|thumb|right|300px|American Youth Congress leaders Jack R. McMichael, William W. Hinckley and Joseph Cadden before the [[House Un-American Activities Committee|Dies Committee]], 1939.]]
[[File:American Youth Congress Leaders 1939.jpg|thumb|right|300px|American Youth Congress leaders Jack R. McMichael, William W. Hinckley and Joseph Cadden before the [[House Un-American Activities Committee|Dies Committee]], 1939.]]


'''American Youth Congress''' ('''AYC''') was an early [[youth voice]] organization composed of youth from all across the country to discuss the problems facing youth as a whole in the 1930s. It met several years in a row - one year it notably met on the lawn of the White House. The delegates are known to have caused a disturbance when they attempted to access the United States Congress. They focused on the draft, which was taking youths at age 18 off to war. At the time in the United States one was not legally an adult in any way until one was 21. They also focused on the economic exploitation of youth.
The '''American Youth Congress''' ('''AYC''') was an early [[youth voice]] organization composed of youth from all across the country to discuss the problems facing youth as a whole in the 1930s. It met several years in a row - one year it notably met on the lawn of the White House. The delegates are known to have caused a disturbance when they attempted to access the [[United States Congress]]. At the time in the United States one was not legally an adult in any way until the age of 21. They also focused on the economic exploitation of youth.


The formation of the AYC is also widely seen as a precursor to the establishment of the [[National Youth Administration]]. Both the AYC and the NYA are notable for the support which First Lady [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] lent to them.
The formation of the AYC is also widely seen as a precursor to the establishment of the [[National Youth Administration]]. Both the AYC and the NYA are notable for the support which First Lady [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] lent to them.


The AYC was affiliated to the [[World Youth Congress Movement]] and hosted the Second World Youth Congress at [[Vassar College]] in [[Poughkeepsie, New York]] in 1938.
== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Berkeley, California. University of California Student Peace Strike. Speaker Abbot Simon, Secretary of the World... - NARA - 532101.tif|thumb|Abbot Simon speaking at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] on April 19, 1940]]
⚫
The American Youth Congress, or AYC, was formed in 1935 to advocate for [[youth rights]] in U.S. politics, and was responsible for introducing the ''American Youth Bill of Rights'' to the [[U.S. Congress]]. [[First Lady]] [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]'s relationship with the AYC eventually led to the formation of the [[National Youth Administration]]. <ref>Black, A., Hopkins, J. ''et al.'' (2003) [http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/glossary/american-youth-congress.htm "American Youth Congress,"] ''The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers.'' Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt. Hyde Park, New York: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Retrieved 7/30/07.</ref> Speaking of the National Youth Administration in the 1930s, Eleanor Roosevelt expressed her concern about ageism, stating that "I live in real terror when I think we may be losing this generation. We have got to bring these young people into the active life of the community and make them feel that they are necessary." <ref>(nd) [http://www.gwu.edu/%7Eerpapers/teachinger/glossary/nya.cfm "National Youth Administration,"] ''Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt Glossary.'' The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. Retrieved 7/30/07.</ref>


⚫
The American Youth Congress, or AYC, was formed in 1935 to advocate for [[youth rights]] in U.S. politics, and was responsible for introducing the ''American Youth Bill of Rights'' to the [[U.S. Congress]]. [[First Lady]] [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]'s relationship with the AYC eventually led to the formation of the [[National Youth Administration]].<ref>Black, A., Hopkins, J. ''et al.'' (2003) [http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/glossary/american-youth-congress.htm "American Youth Congress,"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019032029/http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/glossary/american-youth-congress.htm |date=October 19, 2007 }} ''The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers.'' Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt. Hyde Park, New York: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Retrieved 7/30/07.</ref> Speaking of the National Youth Administration in the 1930s, Eleanor Roosevelt expressed her concern about ageism, stating that "I live in real terror when I think we may be losing this generation. We have got to bring these young people into the active life of the community and make them feel that they are necessary."<ref>(nd) [http://www.gwu.edu/%7Eerpapers/teachinger/glossary/nya.cfm "National Youth Administration,"] ''Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt Glossary.'' The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. Retrieved 7/30/07.</ref>
On July 4, 1936, the AYC issued a ''Declaration of the Rights of American Youth'', which addressed several issues, mainly inalienable rights issues that affected youth, and the economic issues. <ref>The full text of the declaration is found at [http://newdeal.feri.org/students/ayc.htm].</ref> By 1939 the movement claimed 4,697,915 members in 513 affiliated organizations nationwide. The same year the [[HUAC|Dies Committee]] subpoenaed leaders of the AYC, consisting of a core from the [[Young Communist League]]. Eleanor Roosevelt was in attendance at the hearings and afterward invited the subpoenaed witnesses to board at the White House during their stay in Washington D.C.


On July 4, 1936, the AYC issued a ''Declaration of the Rights of American Youth'', which addressed several issues, mainly inalienable rights issues that affected youth, and the economic issues.<ref>The full text of the declaration is found at [http://newdeal.feri.org/students/ayc.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224230926/http://newdeal.feri.org/students/ayc.htm|date=2009-12-24}}.</ref> Its Chairman in 1937 was William W. Hinckley, a member of the CP controlled [[Psychologists League]].<ref>Harris, B. (in press). "Down with Fascism, Up with Science": Activist Psychologists in the U.S., 1932-1941. ''History of Psychology.''</ref> By 1939 the movement claimed 4,697,915 members in 513 affiliated organizations nationwide.
[[Joseph P. Lash]], who later married [[Trude Lash]], described his defection in 1937 from the
Socialist Party in the Communist weekly, ''[[New Masses]]'', was one of the boarders at the White House during the hearings. Another officer, [[Abbott Simon]], staff member of the [[CPUSA]] publication, ''Champion'', slept for two weeks in Lincoln's bed during the hearings.


In 1939 the [[HUAC|Dies Committee]] subpoenaed leaders of the AYC, who, in addition to serving the AYC, also were members of the [[Young Communist League]]. Eleanor Roosevelt was in attendance at the hearings and afterward invited the subpoenaed witnesses to board at the White House during their stay in Washington D.C. That year [[Joseph P. Lash]], who later married [[Trude Lash]], described his 1937 defection from the Socialist Party in the Communist weekly, ''[[New Masses]]''. He was one of First Lady Roosevelt's boarders at the White House during the hearings. Another officer, [[Abbott Simon]], slept for two weeks in Lincoln's bed during the hearings. In addition to his role in the AYC, Simon was a staff member of the [[Communist Party USA]] publication, ''Champion''.
⚫
In the spring of 1941, the youth members of the congress, as guests of Mrs. Roosevelt, attended a picnic on the White House lawn where they were addressed by the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Roosevelt]] from the South Portico. The President admonished them to condemn not merely the [[Nazism|Nazi]] [[Third Reich|regime]] but all [[dictatorship]]s - he was booed by the group. Soon afterwards, many of the same youth picketed the White House as representatives of the [[American Peace Mobilization]]. Among them was [[Joseph Cadden]], one of the overnight guests.


⚫
On February 10, 1940, members of the AYC, as guests of First Lady Roosevelt, attended a picnic on the White House lawn where they were addressed by [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Roosevelt]] from the South Portico. The President admonished them to condemn not merely the [[Nazism|Nazi]] [[Nazi Germany|regime]] but all [[dictatorship]]s.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=15918 Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Address to the Delegates of the American Youth Congress. Washington, D.C., February 10, 1940"]</ref> The President was reportedly booed by the group.{{citation needed|date=November 2010}} Afterwards, many of the same youth picketed the White House as representatives of the [[American Peace Mobilization]]. Among them was [[Joseph Cadden]], one of the overnight guests.{{citation needed|date=November 2010}}
⚫
In 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called "Why I still believe in the Youth Congress," the American Youth Congress was disbanded. <ref>[http://newdeal.feri.org/er/er26.htm Eleanor Roosevelt, "Why I Still Believe in the Youth Congress," in New Deal Network: Selected Writings of Eleanor Roosevelt, originally published in ''Liberty'', (April 1940): 30-32.]</ref>

⚫
Later in 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called "Why I still believe in the Youth Congress," the American Youth Congress was disbanded.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://newdeal.feri.org/er/er26.htm |title=Eleanor Roosevelt, "Why I Still Believe in the Youth Congress," in New Deal Network: Selected Writings of Eleanor Roosevelt, originally published in ''Liberty'', (April 1940): 30-32. |access-date=2005-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006022108/http://newdeal.feri.org/er/er26.htm |archive-date=2016-10-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


{{Wikisourcepar|Declaration of the Rights of American Youth}}
{{Wikisourcepar|Declaration of the Rights of American Youth}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[One World Youth Project]]
* [[World Youth Congress Movement]]
* [[One World Youth Project]]
* [[National Youth Administration]]
* [[National Youth Administration]]
* [[Youth participation]]
* [[Youth participation]]
Line 28: Line 31:
== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* California Legislature, Joint Fact Finding Committee, Fourth Report, Un-American Activities in California, 1948: Communist Front Organizations; (Sacramento, CA, 1948) p. 180.
* California Legislature, Joint Fact Finding Committee, Fourth Report, Un-American Activities in California, 1948: Communist Front Organizations; (Sacramento, CA, 1948) p.&nbsp;180.
* John T. Flynn, ''The Roosevelt Myth'', (New York: Devin-Adair, 1948)
* John T. Flynn, ''The Roosevelt Myth'', (New York: Devin-Adair, 1948)


== External articles ==
== External articles ==
{{Wikisource publisher|American Youth Congress}}
* [http://newdeal.feri.org/er/er26.htm Eleanor Roosevelt, ''Why I Still Believe in the Youth Congress'']
* [http://newdeal.feri.org/students/lash.htm The Student Movement of the 1930s], Joseph P. Lash, Interview.
* Eleanor Roosevelt, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161006022108/http://newdeal.feri.org/er/er26.htm Why I Still Believe in the Youth Congress]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051122194308/http://newdeal.feri.org/students/lash.htm The Student Movement of the 1930s], Joseph P. Lash, Interview.

{{Youth Empowerment}}
{{Youth empowerment}}
{{Eleanor Roosevelt}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Organizations established in 1935]]
[[Category:Youth organizations established in 1935]]
[[Category:1940 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 1940]]
[[Category:Communism in the United States]]
[[Category:Communism in the United States]]
[[Category:Political history of the United States]]
[[Category:Political history of the United States]]
[[Category:Youth rights organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Youth rights organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:History of youth]]
[[Category:History of youth]]
[[Category:1935 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1940 disestablishments in the United States]]

Revision as of 01:06, 2 September 2024

American Youth Congress leaders Jack R. McMichael, William W. Hinckley and Joseph Cadden before the Dies Committee, 1939.

The American Youth Congress (AYC) was an early youth voice organization composed of youth from all across the country to discuss the problems facing youth as a whole in the 1930s. It met several years in a row - one year it notably met on the lawn of the White House. The delegates are known to have caused a disturbance when they attempted to access the United States Congress. At the time in the United States one was not legally an adult in any way until the age of 21. They also focused on the economic exploitation of youth.

The formation of the AYC is also widely seen as a precursor to the establishment of the National Youth Administration. Both the AYC and the NYA are notable for the support which First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt lent to them.

The AYC was affiliated to the World Youth Congress Movement and hosted the Second World Youth Congress at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1938.

History

Abbot Simon speaking at the University of California, Berkeley on April 19, 1940

The American Youth Congress, or AYC, was formed in 1935 to advocate for youth rights in U.S. politics, and was responsible for introducing the American Youth Bill of Rights to the U.S. Congress. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's relationship with the AYC eventually led to the formation of the National Youth Administration.[1] Speaking of the National Youth Administration in the 1930s, Eleanor Roosevelt expressed her concern about ageism, stating that "I live in real terror when I think we may be losing this generation. We have got to bring these young people into the active life of the community and make them feel that they are necessary."[2]

On July 4, 1936, the AYC issued a Declaration of the Rights of American Youth, which addressed several issues, mainly inalienable rights issues that affected youth, and the economic issues.[3] Its Chairman in 1937 was William W. Hinckley, a member of the CP controlled Psychologists League.[4] By 1939 the movement claimed 4,697,915 members in 513 affiliated organizations nationwide.

In 1939 the Dies Committee subpoenaed leaders of the AYC, who, in addition to serving the AYC, also were members of the Young Communist League. Eleanor Roosevelt was in attendance at the hearings and afterward invited the subpoenaed witnesses to board at the White House during their stay in Washington D.C. That year Joseph P. Lash, who later married Trude Lash, described his 1937 defection from the Socialist Party in the Communist weekly, New Masses. He was one of First Lady Roosevelt's boarders at the White House during the hearings. Another officer, Abbott Simon, slept for two weeks in Lincoln's bed during the hearings. In addition to his role in the AYC, Simon was a staff member of the Communist Party USA publication, Champion.

On February 10, 1940, members of the AYC, as guests of First Lady Roosevelt, attended a picnic on the White House lawn where they were addressed by President Roosevelt from the South Portico. The President admonished them to condemn not merely the Nazi regime but all dictatorships.[5] The President was reportedly booed by the group.[citation needed] Afterwards, many of the same youth picketed the White House as representatives of the American Peace Mobilization. Among them was Joseph Cadden, one of the overnight guests.[citation needed]

Later in 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called "Why I still believe in the Youth Congress," the American Youth Congress was disbanded.[6]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

See also

References

  1. ^ Black, A., Hopkins, J. et al. (2003) "American Youth Congress," Archived October 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers. Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt. Hyde Park, New York: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Retrieved 7/30/07.
  2. ^ (nd) "National Youth Administration," Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt Glossary. The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. Retrieved 7/30/07.
  3. ^ The full text of the declaration is found at [1] Archived 2009-12-24 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ Harris, B. (in press). "Down with Fascism, Up with Science": Activist Psychologists in the U.S., 1932-1941. History of Psychology.
  5. ^ Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Address to the Delegates of the American Youth Congress. Washington, D.C., February 10, 1940"
  6. ^ "Eleanor Roosevelt, "Why I Still Believe in the Youth Congress," in New Deal Network: Selected Writings of Eleanor Roosevelt, originally published in Liberty, (April 1940): 30-32". Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2005-07-11.
  • California Legislature, Joint Fact Finding Committee, Fourth Report, Un-American Activities in California, 1948: Communist Front Organizations; (Sacramento, CA, 1948) p. 180.
  • John T. Flynn, The Roosevelt Myth, (New York: Devin-Adair, 1948)

External articles

Wikisource has original works published by or about: American Youth Congress
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