People and groups:
- Majority of the members of the Klan of the 1920s were pro-Anglo-Saxon, pro-"native" American, and pro-Protestant Americans who opposed most new forming, modern diversity groups that were lifting up American culture
- It consisted of almost 5 million members who consistently payed dues to be apart of it
- This second KKK group of the 1920s were the following:
- antiforeign
- anti-Catholic
- antiblack
- anti-Jewish
- antipacifist
- anti-Communist
- anti-internationalist
- antievoultionist
- antibootlegger
- antigambling
- antiadultery
- anti-birth control
What happened:
- At its peak in the twenties, this newly formed "second" Klan spread throughout the nation, particularly in the Midwest and South
- It was no longer strictly an anti-black organization, but became much more of a nativist and nation wide movement
- The KKK would hold rallies in cities and towns and give expression to their prejudices and anti-radical agenda. They would also attack innocent victims, harass those that blieved to be "unAmerican," and generally were a center for intolerant and fearful white Americans
Effects:
- The KKK perpetuated the deep-seeded fear and racisim that was existent in America for much of the 19th century
- The power of the KKK collapsed in the late 1920s due to a combo of financial corruption scandals and public outrage at their violent and harrassing conduct
- KKK continued to exist until the 1960s in a reduced form but was eventually controlled and eliminated by law enforcement
primary sources:
Footage of a group of KKK parading in the year of 1928 along Pennsylvania Ave:
- This is a famous political coartoon of the 1920s representing the KKK and how it was spreading to all parts of the nation, not just in the South.