Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and the Red Scare Flashcards

What was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in the 1920s?

A white supremacist group in the USA. It wanted white, Protestant control of society.

Who did the KKK target and why?

Black Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews. The Klan claimed they were 'un-American'.

Why did the KKK grow rapidly after 1915?

Post-war fear and nativism helped it grow. A film, The Birth of a Nation (1915), gave it publicity. By the mid-1920s it had millions of members.

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What methods did the KKK use to control and frighten people?

Threats, beatings, and lynching. They burned crosses and marched in white robes to scare people.

How much influence did the KKK have in politics?

In some states, members became police, judges, and lawmakers. This let them protect members and target opponents.

Why did KKK membership fall after 1925?

Scandals and crimes by leaders were exposed, such as the D. C. Stephenson case. Many people left when they saw the violence and corruption.

What does the term 'Red Scare' mean?

A widespread fear of communist and anarchist ideas. Many Americans worried that revolution might spread to the USA.

What events in 1919–1920 triggered the Red Scare?

The 1917 Russian Revolution, many strikes in 1919, and bomb attacks. These made people fear radicals.

What were the Palmer Raids?

Raids ordered in 1919–1920 by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. Thousands were arrested as suspected radicals, and some were deported.

How did the Red Scare affect civil liberties and immigrants?

Free speech and fair trials were often ignored. Immigrants faced raids, deportations, and tougher entry rules.

What is nativism?

The belief that the country should favour native-born Americans. Nativists wanted strict immigration limits and less foreign influence.

How were the KKK and the Red Scare linked?

Both spread fear of people seen as outsiders. They boosted nativism and support for harsh action against immigrants and radicals.

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