Ku Klux Klan In The 1920s: Article Analysis
The articles 'The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana' and 'Rank and File Radicalism within the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s' offer very different perspectives of the Ku Klux Klan throughout history. However, it is 'Rank and File Radicalism of the Ku Klux Klan within the 1920's' which makes the least accurate claims of the two articles. One claim the 'Radicalism' makes which is refuted by 'Indiana' is that the KKK rose to prominence only once in American history. Though the KKK was most prominent in the 1920's, which is the time period discussed in 'Radicalism', the organization would rise again several times in the following decades, each time with power and influence. The article 'Indiana' refutes this claim, saying that the KKK rose to American prominence at least 4 times in history, and has been active ever
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'Radicalism' supports their claim that the KKK wasn't racist with the fact that much of the violence it's members inflicted was against whites. However, what this article ignores is that many of the whites attacked by the KKK were attacked because they were sympathetic to the cause of non-whites; some openly supported racial equality, or married individuals of color, or were friendly with non-whites, In the eyes of the KKK, these individuals forfeited the protection that being white had afforded them when they began to show support for any non-white person. As for 'Radicalism's' claim that the KKK was non-violent, those too can be refuted using facts. The KKK performed lynchings, kidnappings, intimidation and many more acts of terror in order to gain power and generate fear. These acts are undeniably and unnecessarily brutal, and any claim that the KKK was anything but violent is gravely
'Radicalism' supports their claim that the KKK wasn't racist with the fact that much of the violence it's members inflicted was against whites. However, what this article ignores is that many of the whites attacked by the KKK were attacked because they were sympathetic to the cause of non-whites; some openly supported racial equality, or married individuals of color, or were friendly with non-whites, In the eyes of the KKK, these individuals forfeited the protection that being white had afforded them when they began to show support for any non-white person. As for 'Radicalism's' claim that the KKK was non-violent, those too can be refuted using facts. The KKK performed lynchings, kidnappings, intimidation and many more acts of terror in order to gain power and generate fear. These acts are undeniably and unnecessarily brutal, and any claim that the KKK was anything but violent is gravely