Working Paper: NBER ID: w13417
Authors: Roland G. Fryer Jr.; Steven D. Levitt
Abstract: The Ku Klux Klan reached its heyday in the mid-1920s, claiming millions of members. In this paper, we analyze the 1920s Klan, those who joined it, and the social and political impact that it had. We utilize a wide range of newly discovered data sources including information from Klan membership roles, applications, robe-order forms, an internal audit of the Klan by Ernst and Ernst, and a census that the Klan conducted after an internal scandal. Combining these sources with data from the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses, we find that individuals who joined the Klan were better educated and more likely to hold professional jobs than the typical American. Surprisingly, we find few tangible social or political impacts of the Klan. There is little evidence that the Klan had an effect on black or foreign born residential mobility, or on lynching patterns. Historians have argued that the Klan was successful in getting candidates they favored elected. Statistical analysis, however, suggests that any direct impact of the Klan was likely to be small. Furthermore, those who were elected had little discernible effect on legislation passed. Rather than a terrorist organization, the 1920s Klan is best described as a social organization built through a wildly successful pyramid scheme fueled by an army of highly-incentivized sales agents selling hatred, religious intolerance, and fraternity in a time and place where there was tremendous demand.
Keywords: Ku Klux Klan; membership; social organization; political impact
JEL Codes: J15; N32
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Klan membership (J15) | socioeconomic status (P36) |
| Klan membership (J15) | education level (I24) |
| Klan membership (J15) | professional jobs (J44) |
| Klan membership (J15) | black residential mobility (R23) |
| Klan membership (J15) | foreign-born residential mobility (J61) |
| Klan membership (J15) | lynching patterns (Z13) |
| Klan activity (Y50) | electoral success of Klan-supported candidates (K16) |
| Klan activity (Y50) | legislation (K20) |
| Klan financial success (N22) | Klan influence (J15) |