How Successful were the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920's?

Question

I am researching the Klan of the 1920's as part of my history course. My themes are membership, politics, prohibition, As a Business, and the decline of the Klan. If anybody could help me in any way it would be much appreciated. My main argument is that the KKK of the 1920's was successful because it was run as more of a business than before. Thanks, Andy

Answer 1

I would say a large part of their "success" was due to external factors. The film The Clansmen heroized them, woodrow wilson supported them...

Answer 2

The Klan in the 1920s opperated more openly than the Reconstruction era Klan. The Reconsruction era Klan was a clandestine insurgency. Defeated Confederates wanted to keep fighting by other means. Because the 1920s Klan was able to function more openly it was more like a business, the way that civic organizations and NGOs are run like a business. The 20s Klan was still a "secret society" but this was more "cloak and dagger" games than it is was a need to hide their activities. What was the point of hiding from the police when policemen were members? While business-like organization did help the Klan's chilling success, the success of the KKK in the 1920s was mainly due to broadening their hateful message. The 20s Klan emphasized "100 percent Americanism" (i.e. anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and anti-Jewish) as much as it emphasized white supremacy over blacks.

Answer 3

I think it's main strength in the twenties was that it became a mass-movement and ceased being a small clandestine organization. I would not necessary say that it's success was due solely do it business acumen but rather that it appealed to followers outside the south and to different causes i.e. anti-unionism, anti-socialism, anti-immigrant, anti-catholic, pro-WASP, Pro-Protestantism which were not features of the early Klan. Because it achieved a mass appeal it tended to attract better educated and professional members which aided the Klan's organization and financial structure.

Answer 4

Successful? In what way? In creating and encouraging violence? In spreading bigotry and hatred? In breaking laws? Membership was up for a time, yes, but choose your words and definitions carefully. "Successful" they were not.

Answer 5

it was very successful. I read at one point their membership exceeded a million members. They were so popular that they marched on DC and were greated by the populace...