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The '''John Birch Society''' is a conservative American anti-Communist organization founded in 1958 with chapters around the country. It never had a major impact on politics. It is still in operation, but is mentioned mostly by liberals who use it to ridicule and attack conservatives in general.
The '''John Birch Society''' is a conservative American anti-Communist organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985).
At its peak in 1964 the Society had hundreds of chapters throughout the country, 100,000 members, 400 American Opinion bookstores to distribute and sell its literature, and an active cadre of speakers that crisscrossed the country. It did not endorse candidates and did not lobby for legislation, spending its energy on warnings that Communists were already in power in Washington and were about to fully take over the country.
It never had a major impact on politics. It is still in operation, but is mentioned mostly by liberals who use it to ridicule and attack conservatives in general.
==Origins==
==Origins==
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* McGirr, Lisa. ''Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right'' (2001), focus on Los Angeles suburbs in 1960s
* McGirr, Lisa. ''Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right'' (2001), focus on Los Angeles suburbs in 1960s
* Stewart, Charles J. "The Master Conspiracy of the John Birch Society: From Communism to the New World Order," ''Western Journal of Communication'' (2002) v.66#4 pp 424+ [http://www.questia.com/read/5002503885?title=The%20Master%20Conspiracy%20of%20the%20John%20Birch%20Society%3a%20From%20Communism%20to%20the%20New%20World%20Order online edition]
* Stone, Barbara S. "The John Birch Society: a Profile," ''Journal of Politics'' 1974 36(1): 184-197,
* Stone, Barbara S. "The John Birch Society: a Profile," ''Journal of Politics'' 1974 36(1): 184-197,
* Wilcox, Clyde. "Sources of Support for the Old Right: a Comparison of the John Birch Society and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade." ''Social Science History'' 1988 12(4): 429-450,
* Wilcox, Clyde. "Sources of Support for the Old Right: a Comparison of the John Birch Society and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade." ''Social Science History'' 1988 12(4): 429-450,