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theses

In 1933, a young woman from New York named Viola Ilma, was concerned about the condition of youth in America. Amidst the social and economic conditions of the Great Depression, she had a vision for bringing to light the plight of youth and a means for addressing their problems. A national movement, leveraging the resources and peoplepower of youth groups from around the country, was born. The American Youth Congress (AYC) was founded in 1934 and became a major youth movement in the 1930s and the first youth organization that would effectively take a seat at the table in addressing national public policy. The 1930s marked a tumultuous time in American history. The Great Depression triggered by the collapse of the stock market in 1929 created socioeconomic conditions that plagued Americans for close to a decade. President Hoover attempted to create policy that alleviated economic problems, however, his tenure as President came to an end as Franklin Delano Roosevelt assumed the Presidency in 1933. Roosevelt’s signature New Deal program was a comprehensive program of economic and social relief that not only defined his early Presidency, but one that became controversial as the Great Depression loomed on throughout the 1930s. The New Deal programs, some aimed at young Americans, garnered the attention of the AYC and prompted a long relationship between the organization and the White House. This relationship was at times productive and problematic for both parties. By employing history, this research tells the story of the AYC and their struggles to fight for peace, freedom, and progress on behalf of the nation’s youth. Through narrative inquiry the story of the AYC is told, recounting their formation, clashes in political ideology, platform for addressing youth problems, and struggles with the White House and the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). The history of the AYC uncovers some unexpected realities about its founder, Ilma, and the organization’s manipulation from the Communist Party. This history captures an accurate picture of an influential youth activist organization that paved the way for inspired and politically active youth in the following decades.

ETD_5911

Ed.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Patricia S. Nolfi

doi:10.7282/T3ZP44J1

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.