Scandals | Educating with Evidence | SIU

Scandals Introduction

The second wave of the Ku Klux Klan experienced a swift and dramatic decline in Southern Illinois as disillusioned members left the organization amid revelations of corruption, scandal, and violence. High-ranking Klan figures such as Edward Young Clark, Elizabeth Tyler, David Curtis Stephenson, Charles D. McGehee, and S. Glenn Young, who held significant influence in Pulaski and Alexander counties, were embroiled in controversies that eroded public support. Accusations of embezzlement, illegal alcohol possession, sex trafficking, rape, and even murder plagued Klan leadership, tarnishing the organization’s image. Initially boasting membership numbers in the millions, the Klan's influence dwindled sharply from an estimated 2 to 5 million members nationwide to just 350,000 by 1927. In Southern Illinois, the Great Depression accelerated this decline, and by 1940, the Klan had virtually disappeared from the region. The Klan’s association with violence and criminality, combined with the economic hardships of the Depression, led to its collapse in the once-stronghold areas of Southern Illinois.

Your task: In this unit, you will examine primary sources related to the Ku Klux Klan decline in Southern Illinois.