Young People's Socialist League

The Young People's Socialist League (YPSL) is a democratic socialist youth group. It was originally affiliated with the Socialist Party of America. It is currently the autonomous youth affiliate of the Socialist Party of the United States America (Socialist Party USA, or SPUSA), with which it shares a substantial portion of its membership.

Organizational history

Socialist Party of America renamed as Social Democrats, USA

In its 1972 Convention, the Socialist Party changed its name to "Social Democrats, USA" by a vote of 73 to 34.

The New York Times reported on the Convention for other days, e.g.,

The change of name was supported by the two Co-Chairmen, Bayard Rustin and Charles S. Zimmerman (of the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union, ILGWU)Gerald Sorin, The Prophetic Minority: American Jewish Immigrant Radicals, 1880-1920. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1985; pg. 155., and by the First National Vice Chairman, James S. Glaser; these three were re-elected by acclamation.

Renaming the Party as SDUSA was meant to be "realistic". The New York Times observed that the Socialist Party had last sponsored a candidate for President in 1956, who received only 2,121 votes, which were cast in only 6 states. Because the Party no longer sponsored candidates in Presidential Elections,...
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