Grounded in extensive historical research, this eye-opening survey reveals the long-undervalued role secret societies have played in American history.
Americans are fascinated by secret societies and have devoured exaggerated claims for their influence. At the same time, scholarly assessments of covert groups that have shaped American social, cultural, and political history have often undervalued their role or even questioned their existence.
This survey challenges both the exaggerators and the deniers. Freemasons? They may not be the hidden rulers of the world, but a significant number of America's founders were Masons. The Know Nothings? Two American presidents joined the movement. The Bohemian Grove? Republican politicians and corporate leaders really did engage in strange behavior under the redwood trees through the 20th century.
Revealing fascinating facts about some of the most talked-about covert societies, including the Mafia, the Skull and Bones and the Ku Klux Klan, Secret Societies and Clubs in American History exposes the truth about the subcultures that made their mark on some of the most important events in the nation's history and contributed to the shaping of the country itself.
- 329 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
Secret Societies and Clubs in American History
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half Title
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Timeline: Secret Societies in American History
- Introduction
- 1. Freemasonry
- 2. Skull and Bones
- 3. The Know Nothings
- 4. The Molly Maguires
- 5. Triads and Tongs
- 6. Knights of the Golden Circle
- 7. The Ku Klux Klan
- 8. The Knights of Labor
- 9. Bohemian Club
- 10. The Mafia
- 11. Ordo Templi Orientis
- 12. Christian Identity
- 13. Scientology
- 14. Manson Family
- 15. Heaven’s Gate
- Primary Documents
- Notes
- Selected Bibliography
- Index
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Yes, you can access Secret Societies and Clubs in American History by David Luhrssen in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & North American History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.