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The '''John Birch Society''' is a conservative American anti-Communist organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985).

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.

At its peak in 1964 the Society it claimed to have hundreds of chapters throughout the country, 100,000 members, 400 American Opinion bookstores to distribute and sell its magazine and pamphlets, 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.

It never had a major impact on politics. It is still in operation, with a base in Appleton, Wisconsin. However it main role in recent decades is a target of attack by liberals who use it to ridicule and smear conservatives in general.

==Origins==

==Origins==

The organization was founded by [[Robert Welch]] in 1958 to fight Communist infiltration of the United States.<ref>Welch said he named the Society after [[John Birch]], the first American to die in the [[Cold War]]. </ref> He designed the Society like the Communist movement, with a strong leader at the top (himself), with each lower level following the orders they were given.  In practive the local shapters were discussion clubs and rarely engaged in much activism. Society literature denounced collectivist infiltration from Communists, the [[United Nations]], and various front groups.   

The organization was founded by [[Robert Welch]] in 1958 to fight Communist infiltration of the United States.<ref>Welch said he named the Society after [[John Birch]], the first American to die in the [[Cold War]]. </ref> He designed the Society like the Communist movement, with a strong leader at the top (himself), with each lower level following the orders they were given.  In practice the local chapters were discussion clubs and rarely engaged in much activism. Society literature denounced collectivist infiltration from Communists, the [[United Nations]], and various front groups.   

==Rejected by most conservatives==

==Rejected by most conservatives==

It was moderately active in the 1960s with numerous chapters, but rarely engaged in coalition building with other conservatives.  Indeed, it was rejected by most conservatives because of the outlandish conspiracy theories of its leader [[Robert Welch]].  [[William F. Buckley]] and his ''National Review'' regularly attacked Welch, and by 1965 was attacking the Society as well.  Starting with Welch considered conservative President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] a Communist stooge, it was deeply distrustful of all presidents since Franklin Roosevelt.   

It was moderately active in the 1960s with numerous chapters, but rarely engaged in coalition building with other conservatives.  Indeed, it was rejected by most conservatives because of the outlandish conspiracy theories of its leader [[Robert Welch]].  [[William F. Buckley]] and his ''National Review'' regularly attacked Welch, and by 1965 was attacking the Society as well.  Starting with Welch considered conservative President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] a Communist stooge, it was deeply distrustful of all presidents since Franklin Roosevelt.   

Eisenhower cabinet member [[Ezra Taft Benson]], a leading Mormon, spoke in fabor of the John Birch Society, but in January 1963 the Mormon church issued a statement distancing itself from the Society.<ref>Gregory A. Prince, "The Red Peril, the Candy Maker, and the Apostle: David O. Mckay's Confrontation with Communism," ''Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought'' 2004 37(2): 37-94, </ref>  

Eisenhower cabinet member [[Ezra Taft Benson]], a leading Mormon, spoke in favor of the John Birch Society, but in January 1963 the Mormon church issued a statement distancing itself from the Society.<ref>Gregory A. Prince, "The Red Peril, the Candy Maker, and the Apostle: David O. Mckay's Confrontation with Communism," ''Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought'' 2004 37(2): 37-94, </ref>  

==Liberal target==

==Liberal target==

The John Birch Society was a favorite target of liberals--some of whom laughed and others pointed to it as a dangerous organization of the "radical right" that aimed to subvert democracy. In practice, the Society actually did little more than publish pamphlets and sponsor local discussion groups.

The John Birch Society has always been a favorite target of liberals who want to embarrass the conservative movement by citing some ridiculous conspiracy theory on the right. Some liberals just laugh and employ misinterpretations of social anxieties to warn that Birchers are misfits; most warn darkly that the John Birch Society is a dangerous manifestation of the "radical right" that aimed to subvert democracy. In practice, the Society actually did little more than publish pamphlets and sponsor local discussion groups.

==Ideology==

==Ideology==

The Society works towards educating Americans about the original intent of the [[Founding Fathers]]. The John Birch Society strongly believes that the United States is a [[Constitutional Republic]], not a [[democracy]].  

The Society works towards educating Americans about the original intent of the [[Founding Fathers]]. The John Birch Society strongly believes that the United States is a [[Constitutional Republic]], not a democracy.  

Although the JBS is considered to be "right-wing", the group has taken many positions contrary to neo-Conservatism. The group is a proponent of what many consider to be conspiracy theories, and the group freely confesses to this "charge".

Although the JBS is considered to be "right-wing", the group has vigorously attacked President [[George W. Bush]] as a pawn of neo-conservatism seeking a "New World order" that would swallow up America. That is only the latest of a long line of conspiracy theories it has promoted.  

In the 1960s Welch insisted that the Johnson administration's fight against communism in Vietnam was part of a communist plot aimed at taking over the United States. Welch demanded that the United States get out of Vietnam, thus aligning the Society with the far left.<ref>Stephen Earl Bennett, "Modes of Resolution of a 'Belief Dilemma' in the Ideology of the John Birch Society," ''Journal of Politics'' 1971 33(3): 735-772,  </ref>

In the 1960s Welch insisted that the Johnson administration's fight against communism in Vietnam was part of a communist plot aimed at taking over the United States. Welch demanded that the United States get out of Vietnam, thus aligning the Society with the far left.<ref>Stephen Earl Bennett, "Modes of Resolution of a 'Belief Dilemma' in the Ideology of the John Birch Society," ''Journal of Politics'' 1971 33(3): 735-772,  </ref>

==Publications==

==Publications==

The official magazine of the John Birch Society is ''[[The New American]]''.

The official magazine of the John Birch Society since 1985 ''[[The New American]]''.  It replaced ''American Opinion'', which was published from 1958 to 1985.

   

   

The Birch Society has an active publication and reprint program. Reflecting its distrust of national leadership over the last 70 years, many of the books blame the White House and national leaders for deliberately damaging the national interest--for example, by encouraging the Japanese to sink the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

The Birch Society has an active publication and reprint program. Reflecting its distrust of national leadership over the last 70 years, many of the books blame the White House and national leaders for deliberately damaging the national interest--for example, by encouraging the Japanese to sink the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

One survey in the early 1970s found the typical John Birch Society member was middle or upper-middle class, Republican and Protestant. He was also fairly young and well educated: the majority of the sample was under 40 at time of recruitment and had completed at least three years of college. A later survey in the mid 1980s found the membership then was disproportionately Southwesterners, young, urban, male, and Catholic. They were consistently conservative on secular issues, antigovernment, and negative toward communism.  The evidence does not support liberal notions that irrationality, social strains, or status anxiety explained their beliefs.<ref>Stone (1974); Wilcox (1988) </ref>

One survey in the early 1970s found the typical John Birch Society member was middle or upper-middle class, Republican and Protestant. He was also fairly young and well educated: the majority of the sample was under 40 at time of recruitment and had completed at least three years of college. A later survey in the mid 1980s found the membership then was disproportionately Southwesterners, young, urban, male, and Catholic. They were consistently conservative on secular issues, antigovernment, and negative toward communism.  The evidence does not support liberal notions that irrationality, social strains, or status anxiety explained their beliefs.<ref>Stone (1974); Wilcox (1988) </ref>

==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