1. Identification and evaluation of sources
The Investigation, examining the birth of the extremist terrorist subculture of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1900s, their brisk and intense burgeoning, their twisted philosophies that spread like a wildfire throughout the nation, up until their gradual downfall during the great depression, will thoroughly answer the question: For what reasons, and in what ways, was the Ku Klux Klan politically influential in State and National legislature? The primary sources, which will be evaluated in order to assess the question, are two books, one by Martin Gitlin and the other by Sara Bullard; both of which extensively detail the history of the Klan in order to clearly assess the question. The Ku Klux …show more content…
This book covers the Klan's influence and strength in the 1920's. The main purpose this book serves is to show how learning about the past can help make sense of the future. The book uses historical essays to “explain the... racism and prejudice which sustain the (KKK)” (Bullard, 4). The book states that the Klan is formed after the civil war. Later it shows that the Klan becomes an invisible government, “From middle Tennessee... nearby counties and... North and South Carolina… The clan became the de facto law…that state officials could not control” (Bullard, 12). Bullard says that state officials could not control the influence of the Klan in those states because the citizens that could vote, and were being represented, were Klan members themselves. Bullard continues to describe the history of the Klan's influence. And as the book continues, the author describes the rebirth of the subculture, by stating,” two events serve for the... Klan to be reborn in... 20th century” (Bullard, 14). Bullard says the massive surge in immigration and World War I, were the major events that triggered the extremist reunification. Bullard details the Klan’s influence in specific states such as Oregon and Texas. The author also notes, its political gains, and its last big propaganda the $18-million-dollar silent film, “The Birth of a Nation”. This book is surpassingly valuable because of its specific accounts and detailing of the Klan …show more content…
Robert Carlyle Byrd a United States senator from 1859 to 2010, who originated from West Virginia, was enchanted by the KKK as a child; then later as a young man decided to join the group his stepfather was once a part of. Late 1941 Byrd wrote a letter to the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Byrd wanted desperately to be a Klansman, due to the impression he grew up with; Byrd was taught that the clan “defended the American way of life” (Peter). Something Americans have been vehemently vicious to protect. Byrd was assigned the task of recruiting about 200 members and his home area in exchange for his membership. Byrd recalls when he met the Imperial Wizard Dr. Samuel Green saying, “He was a well-dressed man… I was impressed by his demeanor… he was impressed by my enthusiasm and… swiftness with which I had for procured the applications… of 150 men” (Peter). Byrd was placed as Exalted Cyclops, which is one of the highest positions in a single Klan group/Klavern. Byrd later in his life decided that politics was his calling, inspired by a Klan member he had met. Though called out for being a Klan member, Byrd refused to set down his ideals and continued to represent the Klan's perspective in politics. With such principles in mind in 1964, Byrd gave a fourteen-hour
The Investigation, examining the birth of the extremist terrorist subculture of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1900s, their brisk and intense burgeoning, their twisted philosophies that spread like a wildfire throughout the nation, up until their gradual downfall during the great depression, will thoroughly answer the question: For what reasons, and in what ways, was the Ku Klux Klan politically influential in State and National legislature? The primary sources, which will be evaluated in order to assess the question, are two books, one by Martin Gitlin and the other by Sara Bullard; both of which extensively detail the history of the Klan in order to clearly assess the question. The Ku Klux …show more content…
This book covers the Klan's influence and strength in the 1920's. The main purpose this book serves is to show how learning about the past can help make sense of the future. The book uses historical essays to “explain the... racism and prejudice which sustain the (KKK)” (Bullard, 4). The book states that the Klan is formed after the civil war. Later it shows that the Klan becomes an invisible government, “From middle Tennessee... nearby counties and... North and South Carolina… The clan became the de facto law…that state officials could not control” (Bullard, 12). Bullard says that state officials could not control the influence of the Klan in those states because the citizens that could vote, and were being represented, were Klan members themselves. Bullard continues to describe the history of the Klan's influence. And as the book continues, the author describes the rebirth of the subculture, by stating,” two events serve for the... Klan to be reborn in... 20th century” (Bullard, 14). Bullard says the massive surge in immigration and World War I, were the major events that triggered the extremist reunification. Bullard details the Klan’s influence in specific states such as Oregon and Texas. The author also notes, its political gains, and its last big propaganda the $18-million-dollar silent film, “The Birth of a Nation”. This book is surpassingly valuable because of its specific accounts and detailing of the Klan …show more content…
Robert Carlyle Byrd a United States senator from 1859 to 2010, who originated from West Virginia, was enchanted by the KKK as a child; then later as a young man decided to join the group his stepfather was once a part of. Late 1941 Byrd wrote a letter to the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Byrd wanted desperately to be a Klansman, due to the impression he grew up with; Byrd was taught that the clan “defended the American way of life” (Peter). Something Americans have been vehemently vicious to protect. Byrd was assigned the task of recruiting about 200 members and his home area in exchange for his membership. Byrd recalls when he met the Imperial Wizard Dr. Samuel Green saying, “He was a well-dressed man… I was impressed by his demeanor… he was impressed by my enthusiasm and… swiftness with which I had for procured the applications… of 150 men” (Peter). Byrd was placed as Exalted Cyclops, which is one of the highest positions in a single Klan group/Klavern. Byrd later in his life decided that politics was his calling, inspired by a Klan member he had met. Though called out for being a Klan member, Byrd refused to set down his ideals and continued to represent the Klan's perspective in politics. With such principles in mind in 1964, Byrd gave a fourteen-hour