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David Bennett Traditional Nativism Last Stand Summary

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David Bennett Traditional Nativism Last Stand Summary
Diana Scutt
History 150
Professor Sandow
In the article Traditional Nativism’s Last Stand by David H. Bennett he proves his view on how he thought that the 1920s Ku Klux Klan was an extremist organization by using Klan papers, magazines, books, and articles. One spokesman, Reverend E. H. Laugher stated that, “The KKK is not a lodge or a society or a political party.” Laugher explained his statement by saying that it was a mass movement and that it was, “a crusade of American people who are beginning to realize that they have neglected their public and religious duty to stand up for Americanism.” By that Laugher meant that the KKK’s sole purpose was to maintain America as a pure and perfect society and destroy anything that could go against their vows as a perfect country. They believed that white protestant men were superior to all and were
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Bennett says that the Klan was, “concerned with the threat they saw posed by all non Anglo-Saxon immigrants and their descendants.” The KKK fought for the rights of white American men and considered themselves to be one hundred percent American. They believed in American superiority, and they refused to let America become a melting pot. The Klan disliked anyone who was considered “un-American” such as Jews, Catholics, African Americans and many other races and cultures that are not “white”. Because of their ethnic differences these people were targeted and tortured. Members of these Klan’s often participated in activities like floggings, tar and feathering, lynchings and beatings. The violence that they inflicted was to create and gain control of a perfect society Women were highly valued but received harsh punishment. The women were accused of things like prostitution and adultery. For their punishments, they were stripped naked, then beaten leaving them heavily bruised and or brutally injured. The men did

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