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'''American Youth Congress''' ('''AYC''') was an early [[Comintern]] affiliate youth voice organization composed of radical youth from all across the country 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 a a coalition of youth organizations, especially college student governments, formed in 1934. Organizations belonged to it (not individuals) and it was under Communist control. Its main activity was a national convention-- one year it notably met on the lawn of the White House. When leaders were summoned before a hostile Congressional committee in 1940, they made a rowdy display of defiance. In terms of issues, the AYC tried to prevent a draft law. When one was passed in 1940, they opposed it because it might be used against Russia's ally at the time, Nazi Germany. fIRST LADY [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] was a vocal supporter of the AYC until it turned against her husband and attacked the [[New Deal]] in 1939-40.

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. Most people dismissed the AYC as a puppet of the [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA); it was one of the [[Comintern]]'s most successful [[Glossary_of_espionage_terms#Fronts_and_cutouts|front organization]]s.  

==Dies investigation==

==Dies investigation==

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>

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>

 

==Communazi era==

==Communazi era==

do no conceivable possible harm to the Soviet Union, a neighbor which seeks only to live at peace as a democracy, and a liberal, forwardlooking  democracy at that.

do no conceivable possible harm to the Soviet Union, a neighbor which seeks only to live at peace as a democracy, and a liberal, forwardlooking  democracy at that.

...As Americans you have a legal and constitutional right to call yourselves Communists...and openly to advocate certain ideals of theoretical Communism; but as Americans you have not only a right but a sacred duty to confine your advocacy of changes in law to the methods prescribed by the Constitution of the United States - and you have no American right, by act or deed of any kind, to [[subversion (political)|subvert]] the Government and the Constitution of this Nation.<ref>''Roosevelt and Hopkins : An Intimate History'', Robert E. Sherwood, New York Harper and Brothers, 1948, [http://americandeception.com/index.php?action=downloadpdf&photo=/PDFsml_AD/Roosevelt_and_Hopkins-An_Intimate_History-Robert_E_Sherwood-1948-1034pgs-GOV-POL.sml.pdf&id=252&PHPSESSID=03d3557b41f249f71349e6d730cc8498 pgs. 156 - 157] pdf.</ref>}}

...As Americans you have a legal and constitutional right to call yourselves Communists...and openly to advocate certain ideals of theoretical Communism; but as Americans you have not only a right but a sacred duty to confine your advocacy of changes in law to the methods prescribed by the Constitution of the United States - and you have no American right, by act or deed of any kind, to [[subversion (political)|subvert]] the Government and the Constitution of this Nation.<ref>Robert E. Sherwood, ''Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History'', (1948), [http://americandeception.com/index.php?action=downloadpdf&photo=/PDFsml_AD/Roosevelt_and_Hopkins-An_Intimate_History-Robert_E_Sherwood-1948-1034pgs-GOV-POL.sml.pdf&id=252&PHPSESSID=03d3557b41f249f71349e6d730cc8498 pp 138-9] pdf.</ref>}}

It was one of the few occasions in his life when Roosevelt was booed and hissed to his face by an audience of Americans. Soon afterwards, many of the same youth picketed the White House as representatives of the [[American Peace Mobilization]]. Among them was [[Joseph Cadden]], one of the overnight guests.  

It was one of the rare occasions when Roosevelt was booed and hissed to his face by an audience of Americans. Soon afterwards, many of the same youth picketed the White House as representatives of the [[American Peace Mobilization]]. Among them was [[Joseph Cadden]], one of the overnight guests.  

In 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called ''Why I still believe in the Youth Congress,'' the American Youth Congress was disbanded.  Mrs. Roosevelt sponsored a new organization called the [[International Students Service]]. Joe Lash returned under her sponsorship as the secretary of that organization at $4200 a year.

In 1940, despite Eleanor Roosevelt's publication of reasons called ''Why I still believe in the Youth Congress,'' the American Youth Congress was disbanded.  Mrs. Roosevelt sponsored a new organization called the [[International Students Service]]. Joe Lash returned under her sponsorship as the secretary of that organization at $4200 a year.