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date: 19 March 2025

Communism. 

Source:
The Oxford Companion to United States History
Author(s):
Paul BuhlePaul Buhle

Whether in its religious, utopian, or Marxist form, communism has played a muted yet significant role in American history. To a vision (or recollection) of common property-holding originating in antiquity, modern thinkers and activists added a detailed social rationale and many examples of state leadership. In the process, “communism” lost most of its religious and voluntary quality, yet it remained a key marker for twentieth century life even where, as in the United States, its popular appeal proved short-lived.... ...

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