The World of American Communism: Ups and Downs 1918–1945

The presented article offers a brief overview of the history of the American communist movement and, consequently, the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) between ca 1918 and 1945. If focuses on questions connected to the membership base and racial and ethnic issues. Furthermore, it analyses the link between the CPUSA and the communist headquarters in Moscow. The analysis terminates with the year 1945 as post-world history of the CPUSA represents a different story that is beyond the scope of this text.