Conventions
| Convention | Location | Date | Notes and references |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist Unity Convention | Indianapolis | July 29-August 1, 1901 | Unites Debs-Berger's "Chicago" and Hillquit's (ex-SLP) "Springfield" groups calling themselves Social Democratic Party to create united Socialist Party of America. News summary of proceedings. |
| 1904 National Convention | Chicago | May 1–6, 1904 | Sometimes called "1st Convention." Establishes a 7 member National Executive Committee, nominates Debs for 2nd time. Stenographic Proceedings Part1 and Part 2. |
| 1908 National Convention | Chicago | May 10–17, 1908 | Nominates Debs for President for 3rd time. Stenographic Proceedings Part 1 and Part. 2. |
| 1st National Congress | Chicago | May 15–21, 1910 | Policy-making session, called "Congress" because no Presidential candidate nominated. Stenographic Proceedings Part 1 and Part 2. |
| 1912 National Convention | Indianapolis | May 12–18, 1912 | Passes constitutional amendment requiring support of electoral politics and banning advocacy of sabotage. Again causes NEC and Executive Secretary to be chosen by National Committee, not party referendum. Nominates Debs for 4th time. Stenographic Proceedings Part 1 and Part 2. |
| 1917 Emergency National Convention | St. Louis | April 7–14, 1917 | Met to decide party attitude to War in Europe. Adopts militant anti-War platform. Stenographic Proceedings. |
| 1919 Emergency National Convention | Chicago | August 30-Sept. 5, 1919 | Formally meeting about party policy after war. Factional war shatters party into 3 groups — regular SPA, Communist Labor Party, Communist Party of America. |
| 1920 National Convention | New York City | May 8–14, 1920 | Changes constitution to require small annual conventions. Nominates imprisoned Eugene Debs for President for 5th and final time. |
| 9th National Convention | Detroit | June 25–29, 1921 | First "numbered" convention. Minutes and resolutions in Socialist World Vol. 2, no. 6/7, June-July 1921. |
| 10th National Convention | Cleveland | April 29-May 2, 1922 | Joins Vienna International. News account in New Age, May 4, 1922. |
| 11th National Convention | New York City | May 19–22, 1923 | Minutes, resolutions, correspondence and the NEC report in Socialist World Vol. 4, no. 6, June 1923 |
| 12th National Convention | Cleveland | July 6–8, 1924 | Endorses pro-labor Progressive Robert La Follette, Sr.. Minutes in Socialist World Vol. 5, no. 7, July 1924; resolutions in Socialist World Vol. 5, no. 8, August 1924. |
| 13th National Convention | Chicago | Feb. 23-25, 1925 | |
| 14th National Convention | Pittsburgh | May 1–3, 1926 | Constitution changed to require bi-annual conventions. |
| 16th National Convention | New York City | April 13–17, 1928 | Nominates Norman Thomas for President for first time. Stenogram published. Proceedings. |
| 17th National Convention | Milwaukee | May 20–24, 1932 | Challenge to Hillquit as National Chairman turned back. Nominates Thomas 2nd time. Proceedings |
| 18th National Convention | Detroit | June 1–3, 1934 | Passes "Declaration of Principles" calling for direct action against war and armed struggle in event of fascist takeover of America. Militant v. Old Guard factional feud escalates. |
| 19th National Convention | Cleveland | May 23–26, 1936 | Solidifies Militant faction's hold of party apparatus. Suspension of dissident right wing in New York ratified. Old Guard exits. Nominates Thomas for President 3rd time. |
| Special National Convention | Chicago | March 26–29, 1937 | Called to address "organizational questions" (i.e. finances, re-registration of members). |
| 21st National Convention | Kenosha, Wisconsin | April 21–23, 1938 | First convention after expulsion and departure of the Trotskyist "Appeal" faction. |
| 1940 National Convention | Washington, DC | April 4–6, 1940 | Nominates Thomas 4th time. |
| 1942 National Convention | Milwaukee | May 30-June 1, 1942 | |
| 1944 National Convention | Reading, Pennsylvania | June 2–4, 1944 | Nominates Thomas 5th time. |
| 1946 National Convention | Chicago | May 31–June 2, 1946 | |
| 1948 National Convention | Reading, Pennsylvania | May 7–9, 1948 | Nominates Thomas for President 6th and final time. Speeches and documents in Worldcat listing. |
| 27th National Convention | Detroit | May–June, 1950 | Reports published. Resolutions available in Socialist Call Vol. XVII #11 June 9, 1950 |
| 28th National Convention | Cleveland | May 30-June 1, 1952 | WorldCat listing. |
| 29th National Convention | Philadelphia | May 29–31, 1954 | WorldCat listing. |
| 30th National Convention | Chicago | June 8–10, 1956 | WorldCat listing. |
| Unity Convention | New York City | January 18–19, 1957 | Reunification of SP with the "Old Guard" Social Democratic Federation to form the Socialist Party of America-Social Democratic Federation (SP-SDF). Socialist Call XXV #1-2 Jan.-Feb. 1957 |
| "2nd National Convention" | New York City | May 30 to June 1, 1958 | WorldCat listing. |
| 1960 National Convention | Washington, DC | May 28–30, 1960 | Proceedings. |
| 1962 National Convention | Washington, DC | June 8–10, 1962 | Proceedings. |
| 1964 National Convention | Chicago | May 29–31, 1964 | Proceedings. |
| 1966 National Convention | New York City | June 10–12, 1966 | Elects George Woywod "Administrative Secretary."Proceedings. |
| 1968 National Convention | Chicago | July 3–7, 1968 | Elects Mike Harrington National Chairman and Penn Kemble National Secretary. |
| 1970 National Convention | New York City | June 19–21, 1970 | WorldCat listing. |
| Special Unity Convention | New York City | March 10–12, 1972 | SP Merges with the Democratic Socialist Federation, adopting the name "Socialist Party of America–Democratic Socialist Federation" (SP–DSF). |
| 1972 National Convention | New York City | December 29–31, 1972 | Social Democrats, USA (December 1972) . The American challenge: A social-democratic program for the seventies. New York: S.D. U.S.A. and YPSL. http://www.archive.org/details/TheAmericanChallengeASocial-democraticProgramForTheSeventies. |
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Famous quotes containing the word conventions:
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—Willa Cather (1873–1947)