A U.s. Legion occurs as organization of veterans of the United States armed forces who served in wartime, seen by numbers of to become conservative. A class action boasts about Three million members. Additionally to organizing commemorating cases & volunteer activities, a Western Legion move within US politics. Its primary political activity is lobbying for the interests of veterans, including trend lines for veteran's benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Affairs hospital system; in addition, it promotes other causes such as support for a Flag Burning Amendment. A organization has besides recently supported a Boy Scouts of America in their efforts to refuse membership to gays. Additionally, a Our contries Legion occurs as steadfastly supporter of religion & anti-atheism. When a few members guess it to become unamerican to criticize a United states in a period of any rather conflict, the Legion has done sol it used to be that in their open criticism of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (see following.)

A state U.s. Legions do an annual civic expert instruction event for high school juniors known as Boys State. 2 members from either every Boys State come selected for Boys Nation. A American Legion Auxiliary runs Girls State and Girls Nation.

1910s
A 1st national convention of the Western Legion was held from either November 10-12, 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1920s
At its January 1923 Convention, Commander-inside-Chief of the Our contries Legion, Alvin Owsley endorsed Benito Mussolini and Fascism. Expression "If ever needed the American Legion stands ready to protect our country's institutions and ideals as the Fascisti dealt with the destructionists who menaced Italy."

Asked whether that intended ingesting on top the food and drug administration, he replied "Exactly that. The American Legion is fighting every element that threatens our democratic government-Soviets, anarchists, I.W.W., revolutionary socialists and every other Red ... Do not forget that the Fascisti are to Italy what the American Legion is to the United States."

Owsley likewise invited Mussolini to speak at near each each year convention of the Legion when you took his period at its helm.

1930s
Based on data from congressional testamony in the 1930s several of the American Legion's leaders, including its original bankroller Irénée du Pont, plotted a fascist coup against the Government of Franklin D. Roosevelt called the Business Plot. Based on data from testimony a plot was averted because Major General Smedley Butler warned Roosevelt of the plan.

1940s
A Western Legion move around campaigning for the internment of Japanese Americans around the period of Globe War II in relocation camps. [http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/intern05.htm] [http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6915/691550.html]

1950s
a Our contries Legion asked for a congressional investigation into the ACLU for their petitioning to end loyalty-oath laws for public workers like schoolteacher in a period of the red scare. [http://encarta.msn.com/text_761578247__1/American_Civil_Liberties_Union.html]

1970s
Withwithin 1976, there was an eruption of bacterial pneumonithe among people attending a convention of the Western Legion in Philadelphia. This form of pneumonia became called Legionnaires' disease or Legionellosis. A bacteria that is a causal agent of the unwellness was late known as Legionella.

1990s
Inside the letter to U.S. President Bill Clinton in May of 1999, a U.s. Legion urged the quick withdrawal of U.s. troops from either Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia. the National Executive Committee of The Western Legion met & adopted the guide nemine contradicente that stated, within a portion, that it would exclusively trend lines operation in case “Guidelines exist as established for the mission, including a clear exit strategy and“That there exist as trend lines of the mission by the U.S. Congress and the American people�. [http://web.archive.org/web/19991217104012/http://www.legion.org/yugoltr.htm][http://billmon.org/archives/002107.html]

2000s

In August 30, 2005, Thomas P. Cadmus, National Commander, stated in an address to the Legion's National Convention that protests against the occupation of Iraq should be suppressed "by any means necessary".[http://www.legion.org/?section=pub_relations&subsection=pr_listreleases&content=pr_press_release&id=303], raising concerns from either civil-rights & anti-war groups.