The 1920s were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and traditional values and nostalgia on the other. There was tension between the old and the new because there were many changes in America during this time. Many people welcomed the changes but there were also those who could not let go of old ideas.
The Ku Klux Klan was one group that felt threatened by change and they reacted by trying to force their ideas of Americanism onto others.
The KKK was formed in 1866 in the aftermath of the Civil War. Their goal was to restore white supremacy in America. They used violence and intimidation to achieve this goal. The KKK’s fight for Americanism can be seen as an attempt to hold onto traditional values in the face of change.
The Klan’s idea of Americanism was based on their view of America as a white, Christian nation. They believed that all other groups were a threat to this ideal. The Klan opposed immigration, particularly from Catholic and Jewish countries. They also attacked African Americans, Native Americans, and anyone else who did not meet their definition of American.
The Klan’s fight for Americanism was ultimately unsuccessful. Their tactics of violence and intimidation only served to alienate people from their cause. The Klan was eventually discredited and largely disappeared by the end of the 1920s. However, their ideas about America as a white, Christian nation have persisted and continue to be a source of tension in our country today.
In the courts, for example, marriage equality became a major issue in the 1960s. The tension was felt in many ways, including in the KKK movement, art, music, family life, religion, and law. First of all, Document D “The Klan’s Fight For Americanism” shows how the Klan is attempting to hang on to old ideals. They claim that they are speaking for Americans of “old pioneer stock.” They promote racism by being anti-black, anti-Catholic, anti-women’s rights and anti-foreigners.
The Ku Klux Klan was created in 1865, and they were Americans who wanted to keep the old ways. The Ku Klux Klan used violence and terror to try to achieve their goals. In the document, it states that the Klan is fighting for “100% Americanism.” They are fighting for a America that is only for white Protestant males.
The Klan also wants to get rid of anything that is not American. This includes books, art, music and anything else that is not from America. The Ku Klux Klan is also against Catholics and Jews. They think that these two religions are not American. They are also against foreigners. The Ku Klux Klan thinks that foreigners are taking over America. They want America to be for Americans only.
Women gain the right to vote and have careers in the 1920s, but The Klan- consisting of “old-stock Americans”- don’t want this. They oppose women working or voting, as well their dislike for immigrantsPrevents them from being fully American according to The Klan’s perspective. This creates tension with the progressive changes happening in society during the1920s art music shoukd show second
The people who created new styles in the arts were not American. They were from Europe or other places. The Klan did not like these changes and wanted to stop them. Lastly, the Klan was worried about the spread of communism. In Document C, the Klan is trying to stop a communist speaker from coming to their town. They say that communists are not American and they do not want them in America.
The Ku Klux Klan was a group that was against many of the changes happening in America in the 1920s. They thought that these changes would destroy America and make it a weaker country. They wanted to stop women from working and voting, stop immigrants from coming to America, and stop the spread of communism. However, these changes could not be stopped and the Klan did not succeed in their fight for Americanism.
The Bridge painting may be seen as a connection to the future. It is depicting how to get to today’s times. The war is now at an end. People are thrilled, dancing, and plenty of money is being made in the 1920s. Langston Hughes’ Document E discusses young black artists having pride in their race.
They have the ability to utilize art to promote racial pride. These old notions of white superiority and negroes and their jazz music being inferior have been turned on its head by this new generation of young blacks using art as a tool for social justice through positive imagery rather than negative labels or depictions of racial hatred that were prevalent under slavery days when people lived in fear (Document C).
The new Ku Klux Klan is for white supremacy and they are trying to get America back to the way it was. They don’t like the changes that have happened since the war. The Ku Klux Klan is fighting for Americanism.
What does it mean to be an American? This question has been asked since the founding of our country. To some, being an American means living in a democracy where everyone is treated equally. To others, it might mean following traditional values or being a part of a certain culture or ethnicity. Whatever your definition of being an American is, there are always going to be people who disagree with you. The Ku Klux Klan is one such group.
The Ku Klux Klan is a white supremacist hate group that was founded in 1865. The Klan’s mission is to “restore America to its rightful place as a Christian nation.” In other words, they want to return to a time when white Christians were in power and everyone else was subservient to them. To the Ku Klux Klan, being an American means living in a country that is controlled by white Christian men.
The Ku Klux Klan has been involved in many hate crimes over the years, including murders, bombings, and intimidation. They have also been known to target specific groups of people, such as African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. In recent years, the Klan has been trying to rebrand itself as a more family-friendly organization. However, their hateful rhetoric and violent actions continue to prove that they are anything but American.
