Although the Klan disappeared, it did not recede, and in the early 1900’s a Methodist preacher by the name of William J. Simmons organized a new Klan in Georgia. The new Klan was seen as a patriotic protestant fraternal society and was set up in 1915. This new Klan did not only discriminate blacks but also non-American migrants such as the Jews, Roman Catholics, Germans and Italians. The Klan only consisted of WASPs-White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. This massive migration of non-Americans changed the attitudes of many as they believed that their nation and superiority were being threatened. In 1920, Simmons met Edward Young Clarke and Elizabeth Tyler who were publicists that had formed a business in Atlanta. Tyler and Clarke introduced the Klan as being ‘pro America’ and with the added weight of the economic depression, membership of the Ku Klux Klan flourished in the mid 1920’s to 2-5 million members. Members consisted of skilled workmen, laborers, workers, housewives, farmers and a large number of scattered professionals and merchants.
The 1920’s is the only period which the KKK was a mass movement. During the summer of 1921 Klan leaders in Atlanta abused their power.
While Klan officials talked of fraternal ideals in Atlanta, members across the nation began to take serious action. Violence flared with a rampage of whippings, tar-and-feathers raids and the use of acid to brand the letters "KKK" on the foreheads of blacks, Jews and others they considered anti-American. Nothing was done to stop this because ministers, sheriffs, policemen, mayors and judges either ignored the violence or secretly participated. Few Klansmen were arrested, much less convicted.
The Federal government in Washington did nothing because of the complex relationship of state and federal laws which made direct intervention against segregation or law enforcement difficult. National politicians also feared losing white votes therefore
Klan efforts were credited with helping to elect governors in Georgia, Alabama, California and Oregon. The Klan also achieved major power between 1921 and 1924 in Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Ohio.
The leader of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920’s was a dentist called Hiram Wesley Evans. His nickname was ‘Imperial Wizard’. During this time violence was obviously shown. Under Evans was an era of suppression which was expressed by hanging, shooting and whipping. The victims were usually blacks, Jews, Catholics and even Mexicans. Many communities were under the Klan’s terror. Klansmen even attacked white protestant females if they were considered to be “immoral” or “traitors” to the white race.
For example, a divorcee with two children in Alabama was whipped for remarrying, and in Georgia a woman was given 60 lashes for “immorality and failure to go to church”. Ironically in both cases the leaders of the Klansmen responsible turned out to be ministers.
Even today the Ku Klux Klan, but rather uses the title “Knights of the Ku Klux Klan”, still remain active and violent, planning terrorist bombings and burning Black churches.
