Are there any good books on American Socialism?

[cowslayer]

I am writing a paper on the Socialist Movement in America for my Literature class, and I would like to know some good books specifically on this topic.

Really I am looking for more of the Utopian early communities down to the 20's and Depression. But really anything about Socialism/Communism/Labor movement in America is what I am looking for.

Thanks!

[Chimurenga.]

Socialism In America: From the Shakers to the Third International by Albert Fried may be right up your alley. I haven't read all of it yet but it's sitting on my bookshelf. From what I've gathered, the book documents the history of communitarian movements in the late 1700's and goes to about 1920.

If I come across anymore, I'll definitely post them in this thread.

[Agnapostate]

A Google Books search (http://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=socialism&tbs=,bkv:f&num=10) set to access results with full view only turns up a mountain of socialist (and anti-socialist) literature.

[graymouser]

The American Socialist Movement by Ira Kipnis is an excellent history of the early socialist movement. You'll want a bio of Debs; reportedly the best was The Bending Cross by Ray Ginger.

If you want to check out the IWW, there are a few places you can go. I'd recommend the fourth volume of Philip S. Foner's History of the American Labor Movement which focuses specifically on the Wobblies.

Specific to the Communist movement, The First Ten Years of American Communism and The History of American Trotskyism, both by James P. Cannon, cover the years 1919-1929 and 1928-1937 respectively. There is also an excellent in-depth biography of Cannon that covers the period, James P. Cannon and the Origins of the American Revolutionary Left by Bryan Palmer, that you might find useful.

There are three essential texts on the CP and the early Black liberation movement. The Cry Was Unity by Mark Solomon is a survey of the whole relation of the CP to this movement from its founding through the Depression. Communists in Harlem During the Depression by Mark Naison is pretty much what it says on the label, detailing how the CP became a major party in the main Northern center of Black culture. Hammer and Hoe by Robin D.G. Kelley is a survey of the downright astounding things that the CP did in Alabama, including of course the famous Scottsboro case but also the major attempt at building a sharecroppers' union.

So depending on where you want to focus, I think any two or three of those would be fine.

[x359594]

In addition to Graymouser's excellent recommendations there is also Marxism in the USA by Paul Buhle.

[Rakhmetov]

Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States

[praxis1966]

Greymouser, x, and Rakhmetov have defo made some great suggestions. In addition, I'd also like to throw my two cents in to recommend Subterranean Fire: A History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States by Sharon Smith. If you want some primary sources (which IMO any history student/historian should use whenever possible) I'd recommend Autobiography of the Haymarket Martyrs, edited by Philip Foner.

[RED DAVE]

History of Socialism in the United States – Morris Hilquit (http://books.google.com/books?id=XxYpAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=History+of+Socialism+in+the+United+States+Morri s+Hillquit&source=bl&ots=FOsAsDT9uz&sig=DvqTZHNcoG3TqdHQ2dSOHHl5D-E&hl=en&ei=_eqTTaLELsPp0gGck4GBDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Old but essential reading. Very good on really early stuff.

RED DAVE

[Decommissioner]

There is a list of books related to socialism and oklahoma/midwest in the link below. I have yet to read any of these books so I can't say what I think about them, but you may want to look into them for some material. http://www.redflagpress.com/

[NoOneIsIllegal]

History of Socialism in the United States – Morris Hilquit (http://books.google.com/books?id=XxYpAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=History+of+Socialism+in+the+United+States+Morri s+Hillquit&source=bl&ots=FOsAsDT9uz&sig=DvqTZHNcoG3TqdHQ2dSOHHl5D-E&hl=en&ei=_eqTTaLELsPp0gGck4GBDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false)
I haven't read it, but I'd take it with a grain of salt, considering Hilquit, along with Victor Berger, destroyed the Socialist Party of working-class support and rid itself of revolutionaries.

Recommendations:

"The American Socialist Movement: 1897 - 1912" - Ira Kipnis
Probably the best understanding of Socialism in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and how the main party around it (Socialist Party) grew, evolved, and eventually destroyed itself, along with a movement.

"Subterranean Fire: A History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States" - Sharon Smith
When the people are shoved, they shove back. This book brings to light some little known labor-fights, while explaining some of the other large ones. This will become an instant favorite on your bookshelf.

"The Industrial Workers of the World: Its First One Hundred Years: 1905 - 2005" - Fred W. Thompson and Jon Bekken
I thought I'd throw this in, considering it a great history of America's first (and still standing) genuine radical union. Written by two people who lived through a lot of this events, and had contact with others who experienced, it's a great addition to U.S. radical history.

I also saw Graymouser mention "The Bending Cross" by Ray Ginger for Eugene Debs biographies; Definitely read this book as well. I would say stay away from "Eugene V Debs: Citizen and Socialist" by Nick Salvatore...

[Jimmie Higgins]

I second "The American Socialist Movement" and "The Bending Cross". The Bending Cross is fantastic and will help give you a taste of some of the debates and issues that early US reformists and radical socialists were thinking about from the depressions of the gilded age to the Russian Revolution.

I haven't read "Socialism in America" but reading about it online just now, it seems like this might have more info on some of the Utopian and commune projects of early US socialists.