The Klan of the The Klan of the 1920s and 1920s and NativismNativism

In ContextIn Context

1920s were a time of unparalleled 1920s were a time of unparalleled scientific and economic growthscientific and economic growth

The effects of large scale The effects of large scale immigration were being felt for the immigration were being felt for the first timefirst time

Catholic v. ProtestantCatholic v. Protestant Prohibition after all had been Prohibition after all had been

passed as a check on the “out of passed as a check on the “out of control society”control society”

Anti-immigration Anti-immigration sentimentsentiment

People felt immigrants were People felt immigrants were taking jobs away from native taking jobs away from native born Americansborn Americans

Prohibition was an attempt to Prohibition was an attempt to control the “drinking of the control the “drinking of the immigrants”immigrants”

1921 Immigration Law1921 Immigration Law

Established the first quota systemEstablished the first quota system Immigration from a country could Immigration from a country could

not exceed 3% of the immigrant not exceed 3% of the immigrant country population in the United country population in the United States in 1910States in 1910

Example…Example… Cut immigration from 800,000 to Cut immigration from 800,000 to

300,000 in one year300,000 in one year Nativists weren’t satisfiedNativists weren’t satisfied

National Origins Act of National Origins Act of 19241924

Banned immigration from Asia Banned immigration from Asia entirelyentirely

This angered Japan (think ahead)This angered Japan (think ahead) Reduced the European quota from 3% Reduced the European quota from 3%

to 2%to 2% Changed the basis year from 1910 to Changed the basis year from 1910 to

18901890– Made southern and eastern Europeans Made southern and eastern Europeans

more difficult to get inmore difficult to get in– Why?Why?

The New KlanThe New Klan

Re-established in 1915 at Stone Re-established in 1915 at Stone Mountain, GeorgiaMountain, Georgia

““The Birth of a Nation”The Birth of a Nation”– Glorified the klan as heroes after Glorified the klan as heroes after

the Civil Warthe Civil War Nativism made them go after Nativism made them go after

different groupsdifferent groups

New Klan TargetsNew Klan Targets

African AmericansAfrican Americans Primary concern shifted to Primary concern shifted to

Catholics, Jews, foreignersCatholics, Jews, foreigners Anyone but WASPs were seen as Anyone but WASPs were seen as

a problema problem

Who made up the Klan?Who made up the Klan?

Protestant whitesProtestant whites More political than violentMore political than violent Controlled the state legislature Controlled the state legislature

in Indiana for a short timein Indiana for a short time ““Family Values”Family Values” ““Traditional Values”Traditional Values”

Traditional ValuesTraditional Values

Klan persecuted anyone who Klan persecuted anyone who went against their religious went against their religious teachingsteachings– IrreligionIrreligion– Sexual promiscuitySexual promiscuity– DrunkennessDrunkenness– Compulsory bible study in public Compulsory bible study in public

schoolsschools– Punish divorcePunish divorce

Similar to Gangs to Similar to Gangs to todaytoday

Provided people with a sense of Provided people with a sense of belonging in a world which was belonging in a world which was growing chaoticgrowing chaotic

Rituals, uniforms, structureRituals, uniforms, structure People clung to all of this as People clung to all of this as

their worlds were rapidly their worlds were rapidly changingchanging

Downfall of the “New Downfall of the “New Klan”Klan”

19251925 David StephensonDavid Stephenson Raped a young secretary, Raped a young secretary,

kidnapped her, and watched her kidnapped her, and watched her dies after taking poison to commit dies after taking poison to commit suicidesuicide

Klan basically died out again by Klan basically died out again by WWII only to be brought back by WWII only to be brought back by Civil Rights movementCivil Rights movement