For Peace and Justice: Pacifism in America, 1914-1941

Description

Peace was elusive for Americans in the years 1914-1941. Territorial and economic rivalries combined with a rampant spirit of nationalism, plunged much of the world into bloody chaos in 1914; although struggling to maintain neutrality, the United States was soon drawn into the conflict. And tranquility was certainly absent from American society in the years which followed the stock market crash of 1929. Again the country's attempt to support a policy of neutrality in the face of almost world-wide aggression was shattered when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Thus, upheaval--much of it violent--characterized many of the nation's internal and external affairs throughout the entire era. Despite this atmosphere of brute force, the ideology of pacifism effected change on numerous levels. Charles Chatfield, ably utilizing primary records, here presents the first comprehensive study of American pacifism's rise and course during the period 1914-1941. He dispels many myths in his analysis of the pacifists' role in the general peace movement, the significance of their dissent for the development of foreign policy. And in demonstrating how the turbulent events of these years altered pacifist thinking. Chatfield also sheds new light on the occurrences themselves. The American peace movement underwent heavy reorganization when absolute opposition to the First World War was fused with the reform impulse of the Progressive era. Chatfield discusses these organizational changes, and illuminates the dilemmas of influential pacifists who had to confront the popular war--"a war to end war." In analyzing the complex structure of the movement between the two world conflicts. Chatfield examines the pacifists' search for alternatives to violence. As he makes evident, it was a period of intense antiwar propaganda, political involvement to secure arms limitation and R.O.T.C. abolition, a growing awareness of the economic basis for the munitions industry, membership and eventual frustration in the socialist parties, and the formulation of the concept of nonviolence. Chatfield's findings concerning the struggles within American pacifism for influence over public opinion during the pre-World War II neutrality controversy are particularly revealing: he carefully illustrates that contrary to prevailing thought the pacifist leaders were essentially internationalist, politically active, and influential. For Peace and Justice is grounded in extensive archival research; in addition to the manuscripts of such major organizations as the Socialist Party and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Chatfield has studied the papers of Norman Thomas, A. J. Muste, John Nevin Sayre, Kirby Page, and others. And he has also interviewed many individuals active in the pacifist cause.