by Marian Spath and Gordon Black

1917

The Bolsheviks unite with Soviets established in various Russian cities to take control of the government in the October Revolution. Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin (below) are architects of the revolution. The Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets leads to the creation of the Russian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic. A peace settlement is reached with Germany.

United States enters the war.

First “Red Scare” in the US; radicals, socialists and IWW members are targeted in raids.

1918

Armistice in the Great War.

1919

February: The first city-wide strike to occur in the United States begins: the Seattle General Strike.

March: First Communist International (Comitern), composed of Communists and radical socialists from around the world, including the United States , meets in Moscow. In the United States, socialists aligning with the Comiterns pledge allegiance to the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system, break from the Socialist Party of Eugene Debs to form the Communist Party of America and the Communist Labor Party, which later merge.

November: An IWW hall is attacked by military veterans during an Armistice Day parade in Centralia. Five veterans are killed by gunfire; a mob breaks into the city jail and pulls out the perceived IWW leader, who was hanged, shot and mutilated. The state of Washington passes a law banning the IWW. In a subsequent trial, seven Wobblies are convicted of murder.

1920

Continued persecution of Communists and “reds,” including the IWW.

1921

Comintern pressures rival communist parties to unite, form Workers Party

1922

Workers Party exerts influence on political coalitions, labor councils

1923

Lenin dies

AFL orders Seattle Central Labor Council to follow union governance by eliminating Communist issues

1924

The Ku Klux Klan stages massive rally in Issaquah on July 26, attended by an estimated crowd of 13,000.

Joseph Stalin adopts the principle of socialism in one country, a departure from the doctrine of the earlier Internationals.

1925

Seattle Central Labor Council completes expulsion of Communist members

1928

Washington courts rule that Workers Party candidates may appear on ballot

Sixth World Conference of Communist Parties calls for period of revolutionary action

1929

Stock market crashes.

CPUSA launches Trade Union Unity League

1930

CPUSA launches Unemployed Councils, calls for unemployment insurance, seven-hour day, and recognition of Soviet Union.

1931

Unemployed Council forms in Seattle

Socialists form rival Unemployed Citizens League

Scottsboro Boys verdict

The Vanguard begins publication

1932

March of unemployment groups on Olympia ends in scuffles between rival organizations

1933

Washington state unemployment peaks at more than 25 percent

Cannery and Agricultural WorkersÕ Industrial Union forms

Voice of Action begins publishing

CP defends Ted Jordan in race-linked murder trial in Portland, Oregon

1934

West Coast waterfront strike leads to police violence against strikers in San Francisco and Seattle

Revels Cayton starts Seattle chapter of League for Struggle for Negro Rights, runs for Seattle City Council

1935

Washington Commonwealth Federation forms

Local 751 of International Association of Machinists forms

Local 401 of American Federation of Teachers forms on UW campus

Seventh World Congress of Communist Parties advocates popular front alliances

1936

Terry Pettus organizes chapter of American Newspaper Guild

Guild strikes Seattle Post-Intelligencer

International Woodworkers of America created to encompass many lumber industry unions

1937

Harry Bridges leads west-coast longshoremen into CIO. Union renamed International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s

Washington Pension Union forms

1939

Communist Party membership peaks at close to 100,000 nationwide, about 3,000 in District 12

Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact

State Representative Underwood requests investigation of “communist activities” at UW

1940

Smith Act makes it a crime to advocate the overthrow of the US government

1945

Washington Commonwealth Federation disbanded

1946

John Daschbach founds Washington Civil Rights Congress

1947

The state’s Joint Legislative Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities is set up to investigate the influence and presence of Communists in state politics.

1949

Officers of Cannery Workers’ and Farm Laborers’ Union arrested as Communists, scheduled for deportation

Three UW professors dismissed for Communist ties

1950

Cannery Workers’ and Farm Laborers’ Union affiliates with International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union

Congress passes McCarran-Walter Internal Security Act to monitor Communists

In landmark case, US Supreme Court rules that Cannery Union officers cannot be deported.

1952

Seven union and civil rights activists in Seattle are charged with conspiracy for attending Communist Party meetings under the Smith Act. The seven include established leaders of the Communist Party in Washington - Henry Huff, John Daschbach, William Pennock, Paul Bowen, Karly Larsen, Terry Pettus and Barbara Hartle.

Barbara Hartle, late of Seattle Seven, becomes FBI informant

1955

Disgruntled party activist Eugene Dennett testifies against Party

1962

UW professor fired for not signing loyalty oath

Gus Hall prohibited from speaking on UW campus

1963

Washington Pension Union officially declared dissolved

Eugene Roebel arrested and fired from shipyard job in McCarran Act case

1964

Subversive Activities Control Board investigates Washington Committee for Protection of Foreign Born

George Wallace allowed to speak on UW campus

UW students successfully demand abolition of ban on Communists speaking on campus

Henry Winston, national Communist Party leader, permitted to speak at UW

Milford Sutherland runs for Washington State governorship.

1965

Washington Communist Party engages in campaigns on behalf of Native Americans, Seattle Women for Peace, Central District

1969

Angela Davis fired from UCLA professorship

1974

People before Profits Center opens in Seattle

1979

B.J. Mangaoang becames chair of state Communist Party

1980

Marion Kinney runs for State Legislature as a Communist

1984

Kistler runs for State Legislature

B.J. Mangaoang runs for mayor of Seattle

1989

Eastern European communist bloc countries collapse

1990

BJ Mangaoang lauded in Seattle newspaper for her leadership. She reports less than 200 Party members State-wide.

1998

Mark Jenkins play, All Powers Necessary and Convenient, examining the 1948 Canwell Committee hearings is staged by UW.

2001

Seattle Communist Party office closed

Marc Brodine replaces B.J. Mangaoang as chair of State Party and is elected to the National Committee

2002

Brodine reports state membership at 60