Not a Catholic Nation : The Ku Klux Klan Confronts New England in the 1920s

During the 1920s the Ku Klux Klan experienced a remarkable resurgence, drawing millions of American men and women into its ranks. In __Not a Catholic Nation__, Mark Paul Richard examines the KKK's largely ignored growth in the six states of New England―Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont―and details the reactions of the region's Catholic population, the Klan's primary targets. Drawing on a wide range of previously untapped sources―French-language newspapers in the New England–Canadian borderlands; KKK documents scattered in local, university, and Catholic repositories; and previously undiscovered copies of the __Maine Klansmen__―Richard demonstrates that the Klan was far more active in the Northeast than previously thought. He also challenges the increasingly prevalent view that the Ku Klux Klan became a mass movement during this period largely because it functioned as a social, fraternal, or civic organization for many Protestants. While Richard concedes that some Protestants in New England may have joined the KKK for those reasons, he shows that the politics of ethnicity and labor played a more significant role in the Klan's growth in the region. The most comprehensive analysis of the Ku Klux Klan's antagonism toward Catholics in the 1920s, this book is also distinctive in its consideration of the history of the Canada–U.S. borderlands, particularly the role of Canadian immigrants as both proponents and victims of the Klan movement in the United States. During the 1920s the Ku Klux Klan experienced a remarkable resurgence, drawing millions of American men and women into its ranks. In Not a Catholic Nation , Mark Paul Richard examines the KKK's largely ignored growth in the six states of New England―Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont―and details the reactions of the region's Catholic population, the Klan's primary targets. Drawing on a wide range of previously untapped sources―French-language newspapers in the New England–Canadian borderlands; KKK documents scattered in local, university, and Catholic repositories; and previously undiscovered copies of the Maine Klansmen ―Richard demonstrates that the Klan was far more active in the Northeast than previously thought. He also challenges the increasingly prevalent view that the Ku Klux Klan became a mass movement during this period largely because it functioned as a social, fraternal, or civic organization for many Protestants. While Richard concedes that some Protestants in New England may have joined the KKK for those reasons, he shows that the politics of ethnicity and labor played a more significant role in the Klan's growth in the region. The most comprehensive analysis of the Ku Klux Klan's antagonism toward Catholics in the 1920s, this book is also distinctive in its consideration of the history of the Canada–U.S. borderlands, particularly the role of Canadian immigrants as both proponents and victims of the Klan movement in the United States. "During the 1920s the Ku Klux Klan experienced a remarkable resurgence, drawing millions of American men and women into its ranks. In 'Not a Catholic Nation', Mark Paul Richard examines the KKK's largely ignored growth in the six states of New England {u2212}Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont{u2212} and details the reactions of the region's Catholic population, the Klan's primary targets. Drawing on a wide range of previously untapped sources {u2212}French-language newspapers in the New England-Canadian borderlands; KKK documents scattered in local, university, and Catholic repositories; and previously undiscovered copies of the 'Maine Klansmen'{u2212} Richard challenges the increasingly prevalent view that the Ku Klux Klan became a mass movement during this period largely because it functioned as social, fraternal, or civic organization for many Protestants. He shows thet the politics of ethnicity and labor played a significant role in the Klan's growth in the region"-- from back cover Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Arrival in New England -- Invasion of the pine tree state -- Confronting franco-americans in maine -- Expansion in the granite state -- Rebuff in the Green Mountain state -- Confronting Irish Catholic politicians in the bay state -- Counterattack by commonwealth Catholics -- Attempt to americanize the ocean state -- Infiltrating the rhode island militia and implication in the sentinelle affair -- Encountering secession in the constitution state -- Reappearance in the late twentieth century -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Index Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Arrival in New England 2 Invasion of the Pine Tree State 3 Confronting Franco-Americans in Maine 4 Expansion in the Granite State 5 Rebuff in the Green Mountain State 6 Confronting Irish Catholic Politicians in the Bay State 7 Counterattack by Commonwealth Catholics 8 Attempt to Americanize the Ocean State 9 Infiltrating the Rhode Island Militia and Implication in the Sentinelle Affair 10 Encountering Secession in the Constitution State 11 Reappearance in the Late Twentieth Century Conclusion Notes Index