Socialist Workers Party (United States) facts for kids

The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) is a communist political party in the United States. It began in 1938. The party started as a group within the Communist Party USA. This group supported Leon Trotsky. He was a leader who disagreed with Joseph Stalin. Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union at that time.

The SWP is known for its "solidarity work." This means they support workers and their rights. They often support strikes. They are also very supportive of Cuba and its revolution.

The SWP publishes a weekly newspaper called The Militant. This newspaper has been around since 1928. The party also runs a publishing house called Pathfinder Press. Pathfinder Press prints books and pamphlets about their ideas.

What is a Political Party?

A political party is a group of people. They share similar ideas about how a country should be run. These groups work to elect their members to government jobs. This way, they can make laws that match their beliefs.

How the SWP Started

The Socialist Workers Party formed in 1938. It grew out of a disagreement within the Communist Party USA. Some members of that party followed the ideas of Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was a key figure in the Russian Revolution. He believed in a worldwide revolution by workers.

Trotsky and Stalin

Trotsky had different ideas from Joseph Stalin. Stalin became the leader of the Soviet Union. Trotsky believed that the Soviet Union was not truly following communist ideas. Because of these differences, Trotsky's supporters were often removed from communist parties around the world.

What the SWP Believes

The SWP believes in Communism. This is a political and economic idea. It suggests that all property should be owned by the community. This means no one person owns everything. Instead, everyone shares in the wealth and work.

Marxism and Leninism

The SWP's ideas are based on Marxism. This comes from the writings of Karl Marx. He believed that society is divided into classes. He thought that workers should unite to create a classless society. The party also follows Leninism. This is based on the ideas of Vladimir Lenin. He was a leader of the Russian Revolution. Lenin believed that a strong political party was needed to lead workers to revolution.

Support for Cuba

Since 1959, the SWP has strongly supported Cuba. They support the Cuban Revolution. This revolution brought Fidel Castro to power. The SWP sees Cuba as an example of a country trying to build a socialist society.

The Militant Newspaper

The Militant is the official newspaper of the SWP. It comes out every week. The newspaper shares the party's views on current events. It also covers news about workers' struggles and international politics. It has been published for a very long time, starting in 1928.

Pathfinder Press

Pathfinder Press is a publishing company. It is connected to the SWP. Pathfinder Press publishes books, speeches, and writings. These materials explain the ideas of the SWP. They also publish works by leaders like Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky.

Where the SWP Stands

The Socialist Workers Party is considered a "far-left" political party. This means their ideas are very different from mainstream political parties. They want big changes in society. They aim to create a society where workers have more power.

See also

In Spanish: Partido Socialista de los Trabajadores (Estados Unidos) para niños