Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Ku Klux Klan

Behind the Mask of Chivalry examines the second wave of the Ku Klux Klan during its peak in the 1920s, focusing on Athens, Georgia as a case study. MacLean draws from Klan documents, newspaper accounts, and other primary sources to reconstruct the organization's rise to power in the post-WWI era. The book analyzes the social composition of Klan membership, exploring why middle-class white Protestant men were drawn to the organization. It documents their activities, beliefs, and relationships with other community institutions while tracking their influence on local politics and culture. MacLean investigates the complex web of social and economic tensions that fueled the Klan's appeal, including anxieties about modernization, immigration, and changing gender roles in 1920s America. The narrative follows both the public face of the organization and its private operations. The work stands as a significant contribution to understanding how extremist movements can gain mainstream acceptance, particularly when they align with existing social hierarchies and cultural values. Through its examination of one community's experience, the book reveals broader patterns about power, privilege, and resistance to social change in American society.

Readers highlight MacLean's detailed research into the 1920s Athens, Georgia Klan chapter and her analysis of class dynamics within the organization. Many note the book reveals how middle-class businessmen and professionals, not just poor whites, drove Klan membership and activities. Readers appreciate: - Primary source material from Klan records and newspapers - Focus on social/economic factors beyond just racism - Clear writing style that balances academic rigor with accessibility Common criticisms: - Too narrow a geographic focus on one chapter - Some readers found the class analysis overemphasized - Limited coverage of Klan violence and terrorism Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (28 ratings) One history professor on Goodreads noted: "MacLean effectively shows how the Klan attracted 'respectable' middle-class members through social networks and business connections." A critical Amazon review states: "The author's fixation on class sometimes obscures other important aspects of Klan ideology and recruitment."

White Terror: The Ku Klux Klan Conspiracy and Southern Reconstruction by Allen W. Trelease This work examines the first Klan's emergence during Reconstruction through primary documents and traces its influence on Southern society and politics.

Religion of Fear: The Politics of Horror in Conservative Evangelicalism by Jason C. Bivins The book connects the Klan's religious ideology to broader patterns of Christian fundamentalism and conservative Protestant movements in twentieth-century America.

Gospel According to the Klan: The KKK's Appeal to Protestant America, 1915-1930 by Kelly J. Baker This study reveals the religious elements of Klan ideology and demonstrates how the organization positioned itself as a Protestant fraternal order.

One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin M. Kruse The book traces the intersection of Christianity, nationalism, and conservative politics in twentieth-century America through organizational networks and social movements.

Women of the Klan: Racism and Gender in the 1920s by Kathleen M. Blee This research explores the role of women in the second Klan through interviews and archival materials, revealing the gender dynamics of white supremacist movements.

📚 The book won the 1995 Outstanding Book Award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America. 🔍 Nancy MacLean's research revealed that, contrary to popular belief, the 1920s Klan wasn't primarily made up of rural poor whites, but rather middle-class businessmen, professionals, and civic leaders. ⚜️ The study focuses on Athens, Georgia as a microcosm of Klan activity, using previously untapped sources including internal Klan documents and membership lists. 🗣️ The author uncovered that many Klan members belonged to multiple mainstream fraternal organizations and churches, allowing them to maintain respectable public personas while participating in vigilante violence. 📆 The book demonstrates how the 1920s Klan differed from its Reconstruction-era predecessor by presenting itself as a modern, progressive organization focused on civic reform, while still maintaining racist, anti-Semitic, and xenophobic ideologies.