These minutes of one klavern in a state where the klan flourished do a great deal to demystify the klan and explain its extraordinary, often complex appeal. A secret, ritualistic, vigilante organization founded in 1865 in pulaski, tennessee, the ku klux klan has had a continuing impact on utah and american history. The first ku klux klan was an organization that thrived in the south during the reconstruction period following the civil war. Mississippi kuklux in the disguises in which they were captured, 1872. A hidden history of a womens ku klux klan in chippewa falls. Its purpose was to frighten newly freed african americans and to take away their rights. Alex crosss trial by james patterson, stella by starlight by sharon m. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition in new york journal of books. Ku klux klan the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. The ku klux klan, or kkk, is a terrorist group in the united states. At its peak in the 1920s, klan membership exceeded 4 million people nationwide.
Although its agenda and methods of operation have changed over the years, the robed and hooded members of the invisible empire of the knights of the ku klux klan have consistently advocated white supremacy, protestantism, and an ill. Centuryold rule book describes kkk beliefs, practices. In ku klux kulture, felix harcourt argues that in the 1920s the selfproclaimed invisible empire had an even wider significance as a cultural movement. Lewis 25 august2014 ku klux klan in 1865, a nativeborn american racist terrorist organization that became known as the ku klux klan was founded by william nathan bedford a former confederate general.
Later that year, he led those groups to independence from the national kkk organization. Nov 08, 2015 this episode of history brief documents the reason for the rise and the fall of klan membership in the united states during the 1920s. Secret history of a ku klux klan of the 1920s by horowitz, david a. White supremacists in tennessee formed the ku klux klan, a secret organization meant to terrorize southern blacks and keep them in their place. As white supremacist organizations and the ku klux klan are again in the news across the u. The ku klux klan in western pennsylvania, 19211928. Although it is easy to get lost in the barrage of details a map would greatly help, anyone studying the 1920s klan or pennsylvania history will find the work indispensable. It was made up of nativeborn, white protestants of many income and social levels. Extraordinary national acclaim accompanied the publication of awardwinning historian linda gordons disturbing and markedly timely history of the reassembled ku klux klan of the 1920s.
Writing for history extra, linda gordon explores the roots of the organisation, its explosion into a mass movement in the 1920s, and considers the political sway that the klan held in early 20thcentury america. Historian linda gordon talked about her book, the second coming of the kkk. Ku klux klan for sale military collectibles for sale. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition, the distinguished historian linda gordon examines the 1920s ku klux klan as a social movement of both historical and current relevance.
When was the ku klux klan formed and when was the kkk at its. The infamous incarnations of the ku klux klan history. The klan has existed in three distinct eras at different points in time during the history of the united states. Racism and the ku klux klan, 19101940 boulder county. When was the ku klux klan formed and when was the kkk at. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition. Influence of the 1920s kkk on politics and culture. Roman catholics, jews, african americans, and foreigners were only the most obvious targets of the klans fearmongering.
The ku klux klan in western pennsylvania, 19211928 lehigh. Madison gave an illustrated talk about the ku klux klan in the midwest, highlighting the 1920s era, when there may have been as. Twentiethcentury secret fraternal group held to confine its membership to americanborn white protestant christians. Nov 27, 2019 the ku klux klan, which originated in the american south after the civil war, began as a secret society dedicated to maintaining white supremacy. By the 1990s the klan had broken up into small groups. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition, linda gordon emphasizes broad. The founder, william joseph simmons, possessed great oratorical skills but lacked organizational abilities. This second manifestation of the klan reflected mainstream american assumptions of white supremacy and protestant hegemony. The history of the ku klux klan in texas extends from the reconstruction era to the present. Throughout this time period, immigration, fear of radicalism, and a revolution in morals and manners fanned anxiety in large parts of the country. He also provides a glimpse of the women of the ku klux klan and their agreements and conflicts with their male counterparts. The indiana klan was a branch of the ku klux klan, a secret society in the united states that organized in 1915 to affect public affairs on issues of prohibition, education, political corruption, and morality.
During the early 1920s the ku klux klan experienced a remarkable resurgence that brought literally millions of american men and women into its ranks. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition by. America and the klan in the 1920s, felix harcourt is published by university of chicago press. That aspect is highlighted in a new book about the ku klux klan in the 1920s, the second coming of the kkk by two time bancroft prize winner linda gordon, which puts modern antiimmigration and. In 1921 the tulsa race massacre, one of the worst in u.
This sobering and important book powerfully explains the relationship of ku klux klan members and the broader klannish movement to the emergence of modern american culture in the 1920s. The ku klux klan of the 1920s introduction the ku klux klan popularly abbreviated as kkk and on an informal note known as the klan, is a clustered name of three different farright organisations from past and contemporary times in the united states. During the 20s, the klanalong with its auxiliary women of the ku klux klan and three kkk youth groupsspread across the north and south by arguing that catholics and immigrants were. I now had a specific reason to delve into the ku klux klans history which, while recognized worldwide as the quintessential american hate group, the specifics of its different incarnations are. The organizations history shows how the klan skillfully used spectacular mass meetings to gain members and influence public opinion. Reconstruction 18651877 brief overview and the two amendments. Review of linda gordon, the second coming of the kkk. Women of the ku klux klan articles colorado encyclopedia. Klanwatch was formed in 1981 to help curb klan and racist violence through litigation, education and monitoring. Guide to the ku klux klan collection, 19161987 and. The washington state klan had a meteoric rise and fall in the 1920s. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition gordon, linda on. How prohibition led to the revival of the ku klux klan. The second coming of the kkk the ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition by.
Against a national backdrop that saw the male and female klan hurl its collective. This book is a unique contribution to the scholarship on the massive ku klux klan movement of the 1920 s. Collection includes a broad range of ku klux klan pamphlets, flyers, and other ephemera regarding klan membership, angloamerican values, protests against african americans, communists, or nonprotestant people, and promotional klan events. Its hard to finish a single page in gordons book without a slight. In 1920s america the insidious invisible empire was not only visible. A hidden history of a womens ku klux klan in chippewa falls in the xenophobic atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, ku klux klan activity spiked in wisconsin and gave rise to womens klan no. It was strongly white supremacist not just against african americans, but also catholics and jews, whose faith were commonly associated. Founded in 1865, the ku klux klan kkk extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern. Terrorist groups seek to achieve their goals by creating fear through violence. In the rare prosecution, the vigilantes were almost always acquitted.
This book advances our understanding of the invisible empire both as a cultural movement and as an american institution. An unconventional yet informative history of the ku klux klan of the 1920s. The ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition by linda gordon at. A new version of the ku klux klan arose during the early 1920s. She described a resurgence of the white supremacist. Historian linda gordon provides a chilling history of the second coming of the ku klux klan of the 1920s. In a time when white supremacy was widespread and unapologetic, the ku klux klan was enormously popular. Still, the book has value for both students of the klan and scholars seeking the roots of modern conservatism, and the university press of kansas should be applauded for extending its reach. The second coming of the kkk the ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american. Ku klux klan the handbook of texas online texas state. Three histories of the invisible empire provide insights into americas oldest terrorist group. David curtiss steve stephenson august 21, 1891 june 28, 1966 was a convicted murderer and rapist, who in 1923 was appointed grand dragon of the branch of the ku klux klan in indiana and head of klan recruiting for seven other states. In the changing world of the 1920s, the group was against catholics, jews, africanamericans, immorality, and drinking.
Feb 19, 2019 during the 20s, the klanalong with its auxiliary women of the ku klux klan and three kkk youth groupsspread across the north and south by arguing that catholics and immigrants were. They are written from the perspectives of a clinical. Presents the history of the klan, identifies the victims of its violence, and the responses of those in opposition to klan activity. For decades historians have argued that the spectacular growth of the ku klux klan in the 1920s was fueled by a postwar surge in racism, religious bigotry, and status anxiety among lowerclass white americans. Ku klux klan 1920s a selection of booksebooks available in trible library. Smart news keeping you current why the ku klux klan flourished under prohibition the ku klux klans resurgence in the 1920s. The ku klux klan took the path of organized violence and brutal campaigns against the reconstruction policies directed towards the development of the african american. In popular understanding, the ku klux klan is a hateful white supremacist organization. In this detailed and impressively researched book, harcourt demonstrates that the ku klux klan was embedded in the popular culture of the 1920s, showing that the klan absorbed and took part in distinctive aspects of american popular culture. When you think of the history of the ku klux klan, many assume they were mostly from the south, illeducated, more or less fringe groups, who held opinions far removed from mainstream america. The klan was unable to stem the growth of a new racial tolerance in. Although its agenda and methods of operation have changed over the years, the robed and hooded members of the invisible empire of the knights of the ku klux klan have consistently advocated white supremacy, protestantism. Mississippi ku klux in the disguises in which they were captured, 1872. In this detailed and impressively researched book, harcourt demonstrates that the ku klux klan was embedded in the popular culture of the 1920s, showing that the klan absorbed and took part in distinctive aspects of american popular culture, including movies, music, print media, radio, and sports.
Over the 142 years since it was born in pulaski, tenn. The rebirth and decline of the ku klux klan in the 1920s. History of the kkk in washington state seattle civil. David curtiss steve stephenson august 21, 1891 june 28, 1966 was a convicted murderer and rapist, who in 1923 was appointed grand dragon of the. As 1867 rolled in, there was an increase in black representation in congress and governmental institutions across most southern states. This report on the history of the ku klux klan, americas first terrorist organization, was prepared by the klanwatch project of the southern poverty law center. A separate entity from the mens organization, the womens ku klux klan participated in cross burnings, discriminative charity work, parades through downtown denver, and other operations. Americans fascination with the hooded order seems inexhaustible punch klan into the book search engine of the website, and youll pull up a staggering 22,767 results. The ku klux klans surprising history the new york times. The ku klux klan and the american political tradition when they drove malcolm xs family out of omaha and evicted all the japanese americans from a town in washington state.
The ku klux klan of the 1920s by linda gordon, author of the second coming of the kkk. Jan 01, 2019 one of the more unsavory aspects of prohibition was the way it was used to target black and hispanic people. The resurrected klan, based in white protestant nativist groups, burned crosses and staged rallies, parades and marches denouncing immigrants, catholics, jews, blacks, and organized labor. Madison gave an illustrated talk about the ku klux klan in the midwest, highlighting the 1920sera, when there may have been as. The ku klux klan in 1920s massachusetts by richard, mark. How prohibition fueled the rise of the ku klux klan history. This book is a read that can enlighten readers, or history buffs about the history of the kkk. Outlining fully the policies and the program of the knights of ku klux klan toward the public school system. The second was a nationwide organization that flourished after world war i. Overlooked until recently, the colorado women of the ku klux klan were led by the charismatic and influential denverite laurena senter. Gospel according to the klan university press of kansas. Influence of the 1920s kkk on politics and culture c. Why the ku klux klan flourished under prohibition smart.
This resource describes racism and discrimination against latinos in boulder county in the early twentieth century, especially the activities of the ku klux klan. Revisiting the ku klux klan southern poverty law center. The ku klux klan is one of the oldest and most feared groups in america. The ku klux klan rose to prominence in indiana politics and society after world war i. The rebirth and decline of the ku klux klan in the 1920s pegram, thomas r. Trevor griffey explores the striking popularity of. Theres a reason members of the ku klux klan wear robes and hoods and use oddsounding titles as they preach their message of white power. The original organization was founded in pulaski, tennessee, probably in may or early june 1866, by six young confederate veterans. Indiana university bloomington history professor emeritus james h. The organization of the ku klux klan coincided with the beginning of the second phase of postcivil. A new ku klux klan arose in the early 1920s, a less v. During the senate debates on the ku klux klan act of 1871, it was revealed that members of the democratic party formed many terrorist organizations like the ku klux klan to murder and intimidate african americans voters.
On this date, the house approved an act to enforce the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the united states, and for other purposes, also known as the ku klux klan act. Extraordinary national acclaim accompanied the publication of awardwinning historian linda gordons disturbing and markedly timely history of the reassembled ku klux klan of the. A fools errand and the invisible empire albion tourgee ku klux klan kkk book. Ku klux kulture reveals the extent to which the kkk participated in and penetrated popular american culture, reaching far beyond its paying. The second coming of the ku klux klan originated in georgia in 1915. A graphic portrayal of the background of the ku klux klan, its battle with the law, and the current reasons why hate groups cannot be ignored. The infamous incarnations of the ku klux klan history news. The second coming of the kkk the ku klux klan of the 1920s and the american political tradition by linda gordon illustrated. In the xenophobic atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, ku klux klan activity spiked in wisconsin and gave rise to womens klan no. History of the kkk in washington state seattle civil rights. This led to the reemergence of one of the most notorious hate groups of all time. The ku klux klan, which originated in the american south after the civil war, began as a secret society dedicated to maintaining white supremacy. In fact, the kkk is a black eye the united states of america is slowly healing from. The ku klux klan act was a bill introduced by a republican congress to stop klan activities.