Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Practice Exam

What critical stance did the Socialist Party of America take regarding World War I?

1. It supported the war effort

2. It remained neutral

3. It opposed U.S. entry into the war

4. It encouraged enlistment

The correct answer is: It opposed U.S. entry into the war

The Socialist Party of America took a firm stance against U.S. involvement in World War I, viewing the war as a conflict driven by capitalist interests that did not serve the working class. The party argued that the war effort would lead to increased militarization and a diversion of resources away from social programs that could benefit the poor and working people. They believed that war exacerbated social injustices and that the working class should unite across national borders rather than participate in conflict that was seen as benefiting the wealthy elite. This opposition was emblematic of the broader anti-war sentiment prevalent among socialists at the time, who believed in international solidarity and sought to promote peace rather than conflict. Their stance often put them at odds with the prevailing national sentiment, which increasingly rallied behind the war as a patriotic duty. This led many in the party, including key figures like Eugene V. Debs, to become targets of government repression during the war years, showcasing the tensions between socialist principles and U.S. foreign policy.