Changes

Membership in the CPUSA was a high maintenance commitment--the Party demanded full control of people's ideas, friendships, jobs and activities.  There were repeated in-depth investigations, humiliating interrogations, forced confessions, and purges. Many sympathizers (or "fellow travelers") supported Communist goals but refused to become members.  Of those who did join turnover in membership was very high, with most people staying less than a year before they quit in disgust with the intellectual and social regimentation of the party and its structure as a top-down dictatorship that took orders from Moscow.  The CPUSA did not execute anyone, but many--probably most--of the American Communists who traveled to Russia were killed there.

Membership in the CPUSA was a high maintenance commitment--the Party demanded full control of people's ideas, friendships, jobs and activities.  There were repeated in-depth investigations, humiliating interrogations, forced confessions, and purges. Many sympathizers (or "fellow travelers") supported Communist goals but refused to become members.  Of those who did join turnover in membership was very high, with most people staying less than a year before they quit in disgust with the intellectual and social regimentation of the party and its structure as a top-down dictatorship that took orders from Moscow.  The CPUSA did not execute anyone, but many--probably most--of the American Communists who traveled to Russia were killed there.

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==Early years==

==Early years==