The second group of historical interpretations depict the Klan as a political organization determined in its fight for political dominance over the Republican Party present during the era of Reconstruction. The Ku Klux Klan itself was racially motivated, using violence and aggression to regulate who could and who couldn’t hold positions of office. The Klan was a result of a political control issue between itself and members of the Republican Party which included a vast majority of newly freed slaves. Within the Republican Party. Within “The Ku Klux Klan: A Study in Reconstruction Politics and Propaganda” (1962), Otto Olsen describes the Klan as an organization who succeeded in restoring political power to the social class that was best fit
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Wald, sees the Klan’s violence as over-exaggerated. Because of this belief, Wald shares a differing perspective to that of his fellow historians within this period of interpretation. In his work, “The Visible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan as an Electoral Movement” (1980), Wald argues that although society is used to depicting the Klan as an extremist group set out to terrorize and destroy the lives of newly freed African American slaves, the Klan was actually established as a political party. Unlike the other historians in this viewpoint who believe that the Klan used violence to achieve its goals, Wald believed that the Klan peacefully pursued its goals through conventional political activity. The author describes the Klan as a political organization who participated heavily in the electoral process, nominating many of its members for office positions. Rather than participating in violent terrorism, Wald argues that the Klan strived to benefit society’s economy and political system. Because of the Klan’s political successes, Wald describes the characteristics of the Klan as being much more than a social network of formal institutions organized by white supremacists. Though Wald’s perspective has eliminated the violent attitudes of the Klan and replaced them with conventional political activity, he still believed that the Klan was established as a political organization. Because the Klan has been identified and established as a political organization, the arguments made by Wald are crucial in validating the above
Wald, sees the Klan’s violence as over-exaggerated. Because of this belief, Wald shares a differing perspective to that of his fellow historians within this period of interpretation. In his work, “The Visible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan as an Electoral Movement” (1980), Wald argues that although society is used to depicting the Klan as an extremist group set out to terrorize and destroy the lives of newly freed African American slaves, the Klan was actually established as a political party. Unlike the other historians in this viewpoint who believe that the Klan used violence to achieve its goals, Wald believed that the Klan peacefully pursued its goals through conventional political activity. The author describes the Klan as a political organization who participated heavily in the electoral process, nominating many of its members for office positions. Rather than participating in violent terrorism, Wald argues that the Klan strived to benefit society’s economy and political system. Because of the Klan’s political successes, Wald describes the characteristics of the Klan as being much more than a social network of formal institutions organized by white supremacists. Though Wald’s perspective has eliminated the violent attitudes of the Klan and replaced them with conventional political activity, he still believed that the Klan was established as a political organization. Because the Klan has been identified and established as a political organization, the arguments made by Wald are crucial in validating the above