Catholicism was a huge part of it. The KKK was extremely active in New England, particularly in Maine, against the French-Canadian diaspora. At one point over 20% of the population were card carrying members, more than Alabama or Mississippi! The anti french laws it established were repealed only in the 60s.
“The real issue is Americanism against Romanism,” wrote Fred Moseley of Brunswick in April 1924. “Thinking, intelligent people do not believe it is for the best interests of the people to place Catholics in office. If a person is not 100 percent American, he is not an American. Let us elect good people to office,” rather than a politician who would sell “his soul to the devil to buy an election at the price of dishonor, bidding for the Roman vote.”
Catholicism was a huge part of it. The KKK was extremely active in New England, particularly in Maine, against the French-Canadian diaspora. At one point over 20% of the population were card carrying members, more than Alabama or Mississippi! The anti french laws it established were repealed only in the 60s.
Could you tell me where I can read more about this ? specifically the french-canadian new england stuff ?
Here’s some quick links to get you started:
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/608667/histoire-quand-le-kkk-faisait-sa-loi-contre-les-canadiens-francais-du-maine (In French)
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/2122/page/3514/display
https://www.centralmaine.com/2017/02/05/ku-klux-klan-emergence-in-1920s-maine-offers-lessons-for-today/
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/york-star/2010/03/04/the-king-kleagle-maine-s/51686485007/
https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2016/11/22/wvii-interviews-segal-story-kkks-history-maine/
This has been mostly erased from the history books, much like the rest of French Canadian history in the United States.