Oscar Ameringer and American Socialism

Abstract

This study analyzes the ideology of Oscar Ameringer, one of the Midwest's noted socialists. While the immediate goal of the study is to determine whether Ameringer fits into a left-wing category instead of a right-wing one, it also provides an opportunity to view American radicalism from the perspective of a German immigrant who devoted his life to bringing about socialism in the -United States. The nature of radicalism in the West remains little studied, and Ameringer's perspective is another view from which to understand it better. Also Ameringer continued to view American radicalism from a European viewpoint, which added a different perspective than many of his colleagues.