Fast Facts about the Klu Klux Klan

What is "Birth of a Nation", and what part did it play in the resurgence of the KKK in the 1920s?

"Birth of a Nation" is a 1915 silent movie directed by D.W. Griffith, and was based on the novel "The Clansman", written by Thomas Dixon Jr. It contributed to the resurgence of the 1920s Klan because its focus on glorifying the original Klan and its "gallant and heroic Knights" inspired William J. Simmons, the leader of the 1920s Klan, to reorganize the second KKK.

What role did religion play in the second KKK?

Being the centerpiece of the platform for the second KKK, religion, specifically Protestantism, played an important role in the second KKK because it inspired the KKK to support the Fundamentalist movement and commit violence toward "un-American" individuals because they believed the nation was losing its traditional religious values and morals. A large part of the life of the Klansmen was dedicated to the Protestant Religion, for members attended church, made speeches, wrote documents, recruited ministers to become members, and donated to support the faith because they believed it would strengthen their cause.

What part did the "Great Migration" play in the resurgence of the KKK in the 1920s?

It allowed the KKK to easily grow in membership up north as well as the south and made it easier for them to act on their goal. Because of poor planning and rapid urbanization, the African Americans who migrated north lived in poverty in inadequate facilities and housing were more subject to racism and segregation practiced by whites, allowing the KKK to further their cause/find more members.

Why did the KKK of the 1920s target New Immigrants?

The KKK's views on "New Immigrants" were influenced by the official Dillingham Commission Report that had concluded that the "New Immigrants" were "inferior, uneducated, and posed a serious threat to American society". Therefore, they were convinced that immigrants from eastern and southern Europe opposed their white supremacist, nationalistic views and believed that all of them engaged in anti-government, radical behavior, acting on this hatred and fear in order to gain new members who had similar views.

What are some of the reasons for the rebirth, or resurgence, of the KKK in the 1920s?

The massive rise in immigration, the Great Migration, race riots, strikes, problems caused by industrialization and urbanization, the anti-immigration and anti-radical hysteria of the Red Scare, and a series of terrorist attacks in America.

What was the "Great Migration"?

The movement of 300,000-500,000 African Americans from the south to the north during WWI in search of a better life due to job opportunities created by industrialization and the war effort.

What was the main GOAL of the 1920s KKK?

To preserve the white, Protestant civilization and the re-establishment of white supremacy.

What was the high point for Klan membership in the 1920s?

When over 4 million U.S. citizens were members.

Explain the role of nativism, xenophobia, and the Eugenics Movement in the Klan of the 1920s.

Nativism - This belief, the belief that the interests of the people actually born in the U.S. should be naturally favored over those of the new immigrants, was supported by the white supremacist views of the KKK. As a result, the 1920s KKK proudly spread this belief and gained more members in return. Xenophobia - The 1920s KKK gained thousands of new members by practicing the idea of xenophobia, the irrational fear of foreigners or strangers, that was extremely popular at this time and led to racism, ethnic conflict, and the belief in the inherent superiority of one culture, both within and outside of the clan. Eugenics - A pseudo scientific ideology promoting the belief that old immigrants had more desirable traits and were superior to new immigrants, advocating for the higher reproduction of people with specific traits, justified the KKK's philosophy.

What groups were targeted by the Klan of the 1920s?

New Immigrants, African Americans, Mexicans, Jews, Catholics, and Asians were among the many groups targeted by the Klan of the 1920s, who specifically targeted groups that represented values and beliefs that the clan considered un-American.

What were "New Immigrants", and where did many of them come from?

People who came from countries in southern and eastern Europe, including Italy, Greece, Poland, and Croatia, to the U.S. from 1901 to 1920 in search of a better life. Americans disliked them for many reasons, such as their common practice of Catholicism, blaming New Immigrants for strikes, violence, and civil unrest as well as the arrival of radical socialist and communist ideas in America.