The Ku Klux Klan in the City, 1915-1930For decades the most frightening example of bigotry and hatred in America, the Ku Klux Klan has usually been seen as a rural and small-town product–an expression of the decline of the countryside in the face of rising urban society. Kenneth Jackson's important book revises conventional wisdom about the Klan. He shows that its roots in the 1920s can also be found in burgeoning cities among people who were frightened, dislocated, and uprooted by rapid changes in urban life. Many joined the Klan for sincere patriotic motives, unaware of the ugly prejudice that lay beneath the civic rhetoric. Mr. Jackson not only dissects the Klan's activities and membership, he also traces its impact on the public life of the twenties. In many places—from Atlanta to Dallas, from Buffalo to Portland, Oregon—the Klan agitated politics, held immense power, and won elective office. The Ku Klux Klan in the City is a continuing and timely reminder of the tensions and antagonisms beneath the surface of our national life. "Comprehensively researched, methodically organized, lucidly written...a book to be respected."—Journal of American History. |
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American Protective Association American Unity League anti-Catholic anti-Klan April Atlanta attorney auditorium August Bowles campaign candidate Catholic cent Americanism chapter Charles Chicago Klan Church citizens Colorado County Klan Court Dallas Dawn December Democratic Denver Detroit district dollars election exalted cyclops February Fiery Cross Gifford Governor Grand Dragon Grand Goblin Hall headquarters Hiram Wesley Evans hooded hundred per cent immigration Imperial Wizard Indiana Indianapolis initiation Invisible Empire issue January John July Klan membership Klan strength Klan's Klansmen klavern Kleagle Klux Klan Knights Knoxville Kourier Ku Klux Klan March masked Mayor meeting Memphis Methodist Negro neighborhood newspaper November October Ohio Oregon organization parade Park patriotic police political Portland Protestant race realm recruiting religious Republican Reverend robes Searchlight secret order Senator September Smith South southern Stephenson Street Texas thousand tion Tolerance United Unity League unpub urban vote Washington William Joseph Simmons York World