“UNION OF UKRAINIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA”: PREREQUISITES OF ITS CREATION, STAGES AND DIRECTIONS OF ACTIVITY (1922 – 1940)

Ihor  BEHEI; Inna KRAVCHUK

doi:10.24919/2519-058X.28.287539

Authors

Ihor BEHEI PhD hab. (Political Sciences), professor of the department of humanitarian education Lviv National Environmental University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1201-8369
Inna KRAVCHUK Applicant of Department of Contemporary History of I. Krypiakevych Institute of Ukrainian Studies of the National Academy Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1513-7624

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24919/2519-058X.28.287539

Keywords:

“The Union of Ukrainian Organizations in America”, the USA, Ukrainian diaspora, interwar period.

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the prerequisites for the emergence, stages and directions of “The Union of Ukrainian Organizations in America” activity during the period of 1922 – 1940. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, application of general scientific (generalization, typology) and special scientific research methods, in particular, comparative and historical, historical and systemic, a critical analysis of sources. The Scientific Novelty. On the basis of a comprehensive study of The Svoboda newspaper and available historiographical achievements, for the first time in national historiography, the key links of organization “The Union of Ukrainian Organizations in America” have been comprehensively traced. The Conclusion. Attempts to create a single organization that would direct the activities of all Ukrainian public and political centres on the American continent and represent their interests before the society and the US authorities date back to the time of World War I. Again, the idea of creating such an organization arose against the background of the defeat of the Ukrainian revolution and the economic crisis that gripped the Ukrainian territory during the first post-war years. In 1922 – 1940, during its activity, “The Union of Ukrainian Organizations in America” was a socio-political organization of the Ukrainians in America, which aimed to carry out activities for the recognition of the Ukrainian statehood, provide material assistance to the development of the Ukrainian life in their native lands, and unify the Ukrainian emigration. The organization widely informed the public about the Ukrainian issue, collected funds to help the people of Ukraine, published books about Ukraine in English. During its activity, the Union organized 8 congresses of American Ukrainians with participation of hundreds of American Ukrainians representatives and discussed the most pressing issues of the Ukrainian national affairs and the international geopolitical situation.

Key words: “The Union of Ukrainian Organizations in America”, the USA, Ukrainian diaspora,
interwar period.

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