The Significance of gender for the "Women of the Ku Klux Klan"

Trabajo de Seminario , 2004 , 18 Páginas , Calificación: 1,2 (A+)

Estudios de América - Cultura y Estudios regionales

After the Civil War, many Southerners were dissatisfied with their situation. The lost war and the fact that many existences were destroyed due to the collapse of the Southern economy, stirred the anger among many of them. The abolition of slavery that was forced upon them and which until then was the basis of their economic prosperity, was the more serious. This discontent then changed to hate towards the former slaves. Many former slave holders came together and formed what became known as the first Ku Klux Klan, an organization that tried to overthrow the system and to return to the old one by lynching and intimidating black citizens. This dark chapter of American history should not remain the only one. After the disappearance of the first Ku Klux Klan, partly because of the passing of the “Ku Klux Klan Acts” of 18701, racial frictions played a minor role, although they never completely disappeared. In the following decades the American people were especially at the end of the century concerned with the ongoing industrialization and development of the country. World War I even saw the involvement of African Americans in the service. It was not until the end of the war and the end of all war enthusiasm that Americans were confronted with the legacy of the Civil War outcomes. The racial turmoil of the post-war era led to the re-emergence of the Ku Klux Klan, generally referred to as the second Klan. Although similar in its basic principles, the two organizations had different ideas altogether. One major difference was the foundation of a female branch of the Ku Klux Klan – the “Women of the Ku Klux Klan”.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Main Part
  • The Rise of the “Knights of the Ku Klux Klan”
  • The role of women in the nineteen-twenties
  • The Ku Klux Klan and the image of women
  • The “Women of the Ku Klux Klan” – Main Principles and Ideas
  • The “Women of the Ku Klux Klan” and the image of women
  • The Legacy of the “Women of the Ku Klux Klan”
• Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper explores the policies of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan (WKKK), focusing on the interplay between gender and Klan politics. It examines the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s, analyzes the role of women in that era, and investigates the WKKK's principles, motives, and image of women. The paper aims to understand whether the WKKK promoted the Women's Rights Movement or contributed to its complexities.

• The re-emergence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s
• The role of women in the 1920s
• The Ku Klux Klan's image of women
• The principles and motives of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan
• The WKKK's image of women and its connection to the Women's Rights Movement

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This section delves into the historical context surrounding the rise of the Ku Klux Klan after the Civil War, highlighting the social and economic factors that fueled its re-emergence in the 1920s. It introduces the Women of the Ku Klux Klan as a distinct branch of the organization and outlines the paper's focus on exploring their policies and the role of gender in Klan politics.
• The Rise of the “Knights of the Ku Klux Klan”: This chapter examines the political, social, and cultural changes in America after World War I, particularly the impact of immigration, the "Red Scare," and racial tensions. It explains how the Ku Klux Klan capitalized on public discontent and anxieties, promoting a return to traditional values and a rejection of modernizing trends.
• The role of women in the nineteen-twenties: This chapter analyzes the changing role of women in American society during the 1920s, particularly the rise of the "flapper" and the challenges to traditional gender roles. It provides context for understanding the emergence of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan and their participation in the organization.
• The Ku Klux Klan and the image of women: This section investigates the Ku Klux Klan's perspective on women, their inclusion of women in the organization, and their attempts to shape a specific image of women aligned with their ideology.

Keywords

The central keywords of this work encompass themes of gender, women's rights, the Ku Klux Klan, the 1920s, American history, social change, racism, nativism, and traditional values. The paper explores the complexities of these themes, particularly in the context of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan and their unique contribution to the Klan movement.

• Universidad: University of Potsdam (Anglistics/ American Studies)
• Curso: America in War and Peace: Jazz Age to World War II
• Calificación: 1,2 (A+)
• Autor: Mandy Dobiasch (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2004
• Páginas: 18
• No. de catálogo: V28132
• ISBN (Ebook): 9783638300070
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: Significance, Women, Klux, Klan, America, Peace, Jazz, World