Ku+Klux+Klan+The+Second+Generataion

Stephanie Lugo   __Ku Klux Klan: The Second Generation __ The [|1920’s] was a time of jazz, imperialism, and the 2nd generation of the Ku Klux Klan. Throughout the 1920’s the Ku Klux Klan succeeded in spreading their beliefs and actions across the Nation, including the North. The Klan, also known as the [|Invisible Empire], has many areas of influence including the government. With the help of wealthy organizations the Klan was able to spread their terror throughout the nation. By using persuasive meetings and spreading fear throughout the white society, they were able to recruit millions of followers. The Klan was bent on regaining the power of the white supremacy, which they felt they had lost when immigration and he new economic needs became a problem. They prided themselves on being what they called “true Americans.” This meant white Protestants. Because most of the Black society still held resentment for being slaves, the Klan used their anger as a way to scare white society into thinking that the Klan was needed for protection. They made Blacks look like complete monsters. But the Klan didn’t stop there. They would terrorize other racial and ethnic groups of people. Anyone who went against their religion or ethnicity was an outcast to them. Some people went as far as refusing to buy goods that were foreign. The white society was mostly persuaded to join or support the Klan because of their frustration with the economy and the increase of immigration rates in the U.S. Even people who weren’t racist were persuaded to join because of all the problems that they believe started when more immigrants came into the country. The Ku Klux Klan was the biggest symbol of white racism in America. They had both political and social power nationwide making them a potent force in American history.  The Ku Klux Klan was the enemy of all racial, ethnic and religious minorities in the U.S. They lashed out at anybody who went against their beliefs of nativism, white supremacy and Protestantism. Many resorted to sexual assault and lynching of anybody who got in the way. The Ku Klux Klan, also known as the Invisible Empire, was organized in 1866. The Klan originally started when Europeans felt they had the right to enslave Native Americans. The Klan became an even bigger influence in the 1920’s because of the rise in the Black population. By 1924, the Klan membership increased to 4.5 million people. The second generation of the Klan focused on broadening geographically as well as expanding its list of enemies. In the south, the KKK mostly instigated Blacks. They would create songs to the tune of other religious songs such as the “Old Rugged Cross,” which became the group’s semi-official anthem. Most members of the Klan were from small, rural towns and cites such as; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Daytona, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Denver, Colorado. The Klan was very influential because they focused on gaining members by highlighting very important topics like immigration and women’s rights. This interested many people who were afraid that immigrants were taking over with their cultural influences. Because the Klan mostly resembled the overall Black population, there wasn’t much representation of white females in the society who wanted to be heard as well. But in fact, women did have a big role in spreading the beliefs of the Klan across the nation through their social gatherings. Even after many accusations against the Klan’s beliefs and actions, they continued to wreck havoc amongst religious and ethnic groups other then their own. They managed to instill fear among everyone including the white population.  The Ku Klux Klan had huge support from politicians who sought the Klan’s’ help to win political campaigns. Many politicians throughout the government went to the Klan for endorsements and support. In 1922, the Klan participated in local elections by electing governors in Georgia, Alabama, California, and Oregon. One of the most important elections was the election of Klansman, [|Earl Mayfield], as a U.S. senator from Texas. The Klan’s rise in political power was very successful locally and statewide. Because of this, the KKK tried to spread their influence nationwide. Political parties such as the Democratic Republicans would refuse to go against the for fear of “political consequences.” Some politicians like Republican President refused to choose sides between supporter and non-supporters of the Klan in hopes of gaining votes from both sides. When the Klan underwent congressional hearings from the House of Representatives they managed to get away with the violent actions that they had been accused of. [|Simmons], the Klan organizer, stressed the organization’s fraternal and charitable nature. Even though the Klan didn’t suffer much damage, the Rules Committee chairman, Philip Campbell, was defeated during his election campaign because he had taken part in the investigation. The Klan sought support from Americans who didn’t like the immigrants and their cultural influences. Government officials who supported the Klan’s mission claimed that the Invisible Empire was organized to take care of corruption and crime as well as save the South from “Black political and social domination.” As the U.S. government was taking over and becoming imperial the Ku Klux Klan used it as a way to make racial arguments as “strong pillars o foreign policy.”  During the early generation of the Ku Klux Klan, there were many laws such as the [|Jim Crow laws], which made living much harder on the Black society. There were laws for the [|segregation] of Blacks and Whites when it came to education, public buildings, and even riding public transportation. In 1924, the Atlanta city council passed a law that forbade black barbers from serving white women and children under the age of 14. In the 1926 Mississippi General Assembly stated “there shall white drivers for carrying white passengers and colored drivers for carrying colored passengers.” Laws like these only fueled the desire fro the Klan to torture the Black society. “Black Codes” made Blacks unable to claim jobs any jobs and were forced to do jobs assigned by Whites. Blacks often felt just as their ancestors during their time as slaves. Because of all this tension towards the Black society, many Klan members were able to punish Blacks in any way and get away with it. Many Blacks began protesting even though they faced huge risks of being jailed for it. They were horribly beaten and sometimes even lynched. Blacks were made to look like filthy criminals capable of rape and spreading terror throughout the white society. There were many instances when Blacks would be found guilty of crimes they didn’t commit merely because of their color. There were other instances where whites took it upon themselves to punish blacks who they felt were a danger to their society. Black women were often raped while their husbands were made to watch helplessly and were then often beaten horribly afterwards. Cops and other political figures reused to acknowledge these acts of violence fearing the wrath of the Klan above the wrath of anyone else.  The Ku Klux Klan did not limit their violence to just Blacks. No, they also had to torture other religious and ethnic groups. Italians, Irish and many other foreigners were targeted by the Klan. Anyone who went against their religion, beliefs, and race were also targeted and tortured. Along with foreigners, anyone who had a different religion was hated. Many people had to be very careful to show their true religion. Anything foreign was sometimes thrown out or not even bought. Foreign stores were often destroyed by the Klan and they even would mark the stores and houses with racial slurs. Both adults and children were targeted which made it even worse. But that did not keep foreigners from trying to protect their right to live peacefully. Opponents of the Klan included the American Legion, gangsters, and bootleggers, African American newspaper editors, and politicians, Jewish leaders and especially Irish Catholics and their organizations. The rebels would sometimes publish the names of Klan members and violently attacked Klan meetings. During the [|Red Scare] in 1920, [|General A. Mitchell Palmer] sent FBI agents men and women who were considered “dangerous aliens.” He would hold his prisoners without bail. The General also forcefully deported 249 “undesirables” to the USSR.  The Ku Klux Klan was very influential among the white society. In order for their organization to exist, they needed to gain support from as many white [|Protestants] as possible. To do so they would address issues like immigration. Even those who did not hate foreigner, they did and have a problem, with the increase of immigration. The Klan used public relations to help spread the idea of 100% Americanism and the cause of racial purity. The Klan would go around to rural towns and cities preaching about the necessity of white supremacy and the way that foreigners were taking over with their new cultural ideas. Their main purpose was to fuel the anger of the white society so that they would joint the Klan. Even though women were still thought of as inferior they still played a major role in spreading the Klan’s message through church gatherings, and social celebrations. Women thought of the Klan as a social setting where they could enjoy their own racial and religious privileges. To persuade women to help the cause the Klan would talk about the importance of women and their rights. Anything that women would want to hear would be discussed to make them happy. When the Klan would talk about the importance of the Klan’s mission they liked to stress that without the Klan, blacks would retaliate against their former masters by harming white wives, daughters, and mothers. The Klan was “needed” to help fight against all of this from happening. Declining agricultural prices in the 1920’s made farmers an easy target. They would blame Jewish bankers and foreign interests fro these problems. The Klan managed to gain supporters from even in the North because of all the problems with the migration rates. When expanding nationwide, the Klan would sometimes take office in some states. In Oakland, California the Klan made an office to “keep a closer check up on public officials,” as well as to prevent “laxity in the discharging of the duties of public offices.” Those who were a part of the Klan had very good jobs and lived a nice life versus those who opposed them. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Klan was very influential politically and socially making them a potent force in American History. They were able to put many Klansmen in political power and participated in many elections that helped spread their message nationwide. The 2nd generation of the Klan was able to terrorize the Black society as well as being able to get away with the punishments that they enforced onto them. They not only terrorized the black society but they also punished anyone who was o different ethnicity or religion. For the most part the white society as a whole supported the Klan’s message but the very few who didn’t were targeted as well. The Ku Klux Klan is a major organization that left a humongous mark in American History and is still unfortunately alive today. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">