216: The Ku Klux Klan
Birth of a Nation
- Controversial but highly influential and innovative silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. It demonstrated the power of film propaganda and revived the KKK. - glorifies clan - depicts black man running amuck that rapes and kills white women - gave rise to vigilante idea that whites were under attack/threat
March on Washington
- Goal: to demonstrate a mass membership and nationwide presence - sanctioned by government
Global Recession
- National economies undergo a sustained period of negative growth, integration and inter-dependency of national economies quickly spread crisis. - fear US was coming undone - worried about influx of Eastern European immigrants who they feared would adhere to communism - scared of influence of Catholics and Jews - scared of Blacks coming from South
Paris Peace Conference
- The great rulers and countries excluding Germany and Russia met in Versailles to negotiate the repercussions of the war, such leaders included Loyd George (Britain), Woodrow Wilson (America), Cleamancu (France) and Italy. The treaty of Versailles was made but not agreed to be signed and the conference proved unsuccessful. - KKK fear this might challenge American order
KKK third wave
- after civil rights movement - bombings, beatings, shooting of blacks follow - Johnson condemned Klan and arrested 4 men in murder case of women - fragmented KKK groups spread to other right wing groups in support - only about 6,000-10,000 members instead of millions
what brings KKK second wave down?
- clans own self-destruction - changing socioeconomic and social context - corruption - members left in frustration - KKK leader David Stephenson arrested for raping and killing a women
KKK Sources of Popularity
- expression of white supremacy and moral conservatism in culturally acceptable ways - gave members a sense of belonging to something special - axillaries for yound=ger children; KKK groups for children - secret codes, rituals, titles, handshakes, sponsored parades, picnics
Program of KKK
- restoration of "true Americanism" and "America First" - America is understood as white and Protestant - condemned immigrants and racial minorities - condemned communism and most leftist policies - critiqued alcohol, birth control, and teachings of evolution
Revival of KKK
- revived by Atlanta native William Simmons - membership is nationwide, and are disproportionally middle class, and organization takes on very visible public presence - superficial nice klan is most insidious/dangerous: host festivities, hold pageants, have social gatherings - encouraged native born white Americans to believe that bigotry, intimidation, harassment, and extralegal violence were all perfectly compatible with If not to patriotic respectability - most people who joined had previous experience with civic organizations
birth of KKK
- started after Reconstruction act of 1867 - started by army General Nathaniel Benford Forrest - formed to deal with animosity between union and rebel soldiers - originally organized as a social club for Confederate veterans - top goal was assuring protestant white supremacy - members are mostly upper class but later add lower classes - violent tactics to prevent blacks from voting - Forrest disbanded it because he thought they reached their goal - Enforcement Acts of 1870 and 1871 caused demise
KKK as Civic Organization
- strong presence in Churches: donate money and bibles and ran charity drives - efforts to fight "Catholic influence" in public schools - created special Klan rituals for civic ceremonies - political participation-> ran Klan candidates for public office - provided avenue for communal and civic engagement, professional networking - gave members a sense of pride in who they were - raised money for Protestant only hospitals
Ideology of KKK
-Xenophobia: scared of people pther than white - religious prejudice - white supremacy - concervative moralism
Tactics of KKK
Disguise, nightime raids, whippings, murder, disruption of meetings, intimidation.
Enforcement Acts of 1870 and 1871
defined crimes that deprived citizens of their civil and political rights as federal offenses, and under these laws President Grant sent federal marshals to arrest hundreds of accused Klansmen.
KKK in the 1920s
dramatic expansion due to nativism and The Birth of a Nation; favored White supremacy and restrictions on immigration; hostile towards immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and African Americans
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
organization that promotes hatred and discrimination against specific ethnic and religious groups
Reconstruction Act of 1867
Necessary requirements for the former Confederate States to be readmitted to the Union
