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==Second KKK: The 1920s==

==Second KKK: The 1920s==

The second KKK was a nonviolent membership organization in the 1920s that reached hundreds of thousands—possibly millions—of men in every state.   It was mostly a [[Ponzi scheme]], whereby the organizers took all the money (for initiation fees and costumes).  When they had organized an area they moved on, leaving local chapters without money or leadership.  No prominent American admitted he was a member at the time, but state organizers claimed vast powers.  There is a possibility that some local Klans in the deep South engaged in violence against blacks, but historians are unsure; allegations of systematic violence were common but have not been verified.  In recent years historians have found enough records to show that local chapters were primarily discussion groups, often with speakers who denounced Catholics, Jews, crime and violation of the prohibition laws.   

The second KKK was a nonviolent membership organization in the 1920s that reached hundreds of thousands—possibly millions—of men in every state. It was mostly a [[Ponzi scheme]], whereby the organizers took all the money (for initiation fees and costumes).  When they had organized an area they moved on, leaving local chapters without money or leadership.  No prominent American admitted he was a member at the time, but state organizers claimed vast powers.  There is a possibility that some local Klans in the deep South engaged in violence against blacks, but historians are unsure; allegations of systematic violence were common but have not been verified.  In recent years historians have found enough records to show that local chapters were primarily discussion groups, often with speakers who denounced Catholics, Jews, crime and violation of the prohibition laws.   

In [[Oregon]] during 1922, the Klan pushed Governor Walter M. Pierce to end [[school choice]] by enacting the Compulsory Public Education Act, which was intended to prevent any children in the state from being free from their indoctrination and especially to target Catholics.<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/court-cases/pierce-v-society-sisters Pierce v. Society of Sisters]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/younghistorians/2012/oralpres/6/ The Quiet Bigotry of Oregon's Compulsory Public Education Act]. ''PDXScholar''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> The measure was supported by the public school establishment and opposed by blacks, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans, and Adventists. It was struck down three years later by the unanimous [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]''.<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters/>

In [[Oregon]] during 1922, the Klan pushed Governor Walter M. Pierce to end [[school choice]] by enacting the Compulsory Public Education Act, which required all children in the state to attend [[public schools]].<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/court-cases/pierce-v-society-sisters Pierce v. Society of Sisters]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/younghistorians/2012/oralpres/6/ The Quiet Bigotry of Oregon's Compulsory Public Education Act]. ''PDXScholar''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> It effectively shut down private Catholic schools, which the KKK despised.<ref>Streit, Katie (July 22, 2020). [https://kobi5.com/news/local-news/the-history-of-racism-in-southern-oregon-part-two-133142/ The history of racism in Southern Oregon: part two]. ''KOTI-TV-NBC2''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> The measure was supported by the public school establishment and opposed by blacks, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans, and Adventists. It was struck down three years later by the unanimous [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]''.<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters/>

A series of scandals rocked the KKK's reputation and the group somewhat faded after the 1924 Democratic National Convention.

A series of scandals rocked the KKK's reputation and the group somewhat faded after the 1924 Democratic National Convention.