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'''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 1930's. 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.

'''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 1930's. 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.

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. The AYC came under the patronage of [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]; however most people dismissed it as being part of the [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA), and was largely regarded as one of the [[Comintern]]'s most successful [[Glossary_of_espionage_terms#Fronts_and_cutouts|front organization]]s.

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. The AYC came under the patronage of [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]; however most people dismissed it as being part of the [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA), and was largely regarded as one of the [[Comintern]]'s most successful [[Glossary_of_espionage_terms#Fronts_and_cutouts|front organization]]s.  

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 afterwards invited the subpoenaed witnesses to board at the White House during their stay in Washington D.C.

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 afterwards invited the subpoenaed witnesses to board at the White House during their stay in Washington D.C. The First Lady went so far as to lobby the Committee to not brand the AYC as a Communist front organization. <ref>House Committee on Un-American Activities, 1940-41.</ref>

[[Joseph P. Lash]], who later married [[Trude Lash]], described his defection in 1937 from the

[[Joseph P. Lash]], who later married [[Trude Lash]], described his defection in 1937 from the

In 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called ''Why I still believe in the Youth Congress,'' the American Youth Congress was disbanded.

In 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called ''Why I still believe in the Youth Congress,'' the American Youth Congress was disbanded.

==Sources==

==References==

*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. 180.

*John T. Flynn, ''The Roosevelt Myth'', (New York: Devin-Adair, 1948)

*John T. Flynn, ''The Roosevelt Myth'', (New York: Devin-Adair, 1948)