_0gzg316v2-banner
_xjbsge9au-banner

Before You Go

Get 30% off Britannica Premium and access unlimited, fact-checked content today.

SUBSCRIBE
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
Ask Our Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
American Socialism
Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Pros
    • Pro 1: The U.S. already has many successful and popular socialist policies.
    • Pro 2: Socialist policies can work with capitalist structures to undo the harm done by unfettered capitalism.
    • Pro 3: The American public supports the implementation of more socialist policies.
  • Cons
    • Con 1: The U.S. already has too many costly socialist entitlements.
    • Con 2: The job of the U.S. government is to promote equal opportunity, not promise equal results.
    • Con 3: The American public supports a capitalist economy.
  • 1-minute Survey
  • Discussion Questions
  • Take Action
  • Sources
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Democratic Socialists of America
Read Next
Close up of a hand placing a ballot in a ballot box. Election vote voter voting
Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term?
Washington, D.C. locator map.
What State Is Washington, D.C. In?
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Saint Charles, MO, USA - March 14, 2016: US Senator and Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally at the Family Arena in Saint Charles, Missouri.
Pro and Con: Socialism in the United States
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
Discover
Panoramic view of moai, Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile
8 of the World’s Most-Remote Islands
illustration of the walking titanosaurus, Patagotitan mayorum
Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs
Bakers Dozen of Donuts, or Paczki's
Why Is a Baker’s Dozen 13?
The starting line-up at the first ever Indianapolis 500 motor race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, 1911.
The First Indy 500: A Spectacular Start in 1911
Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"
How Deadly Is Quicksand?
The Fortune-Teller, oil on canvas by Georges de La Tour, probably the 1630s; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. (101.9 x 123.5 cm.) (The Fortune Teller)
10 Paintings You Should See at the Met in New York City
Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding
7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers

American Socialism: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Democratic Socialists of America
See All Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
United StatessocialismACLUU.S. Pledge of AllegianceD.C. and Puerto Rico StatehoodFilibusterCongressional Term LimitsMandatory National ServiceHomelessnessU.S. Supreme CourtNational Anthem ExplainerImpeachment Explainer

History at your fingertips – Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox!
By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Click here to view our Privacy Notice. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email.
Thank you for subscribing!
Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.
Stay Connected
Facebook X YouTube Instagram

  • About Us & Legal Info
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Equal Opportunity
©2025 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "American Socialism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/facts/American-socialism-debate. Accessed 29 May 2025.
Share
Share to social media
Facebook X
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/American-socialism-debate