Would there be a KKK in a world where Lincoln lived?

[Hulkster'01]

So if Lincoln survives his assassination and is able to be at the helm of Reconstruction, do the KKK still exist? If so how long? Does Lincoln send troops like Grant to stop lynching and mobs? What about the Jim Crow laws? Would there still be a Civil rights movement in the 60’s?

 

[Colonel Zoidberg]

So if Lincoln survives his assassination and is able to be at the helm of Reconstruction, do the KKK still exist? If so how long? Does Lincoln send troops like Grant to stop lynching and mobs? What about the Jim Crow laws? Would there still be a Civil rights movement in the 60’s?

There probably would be a KKK but it might fizzle out if Reconstruction goes well. Bear in mind that Lincoln did not expect black and white people to live together peacefully, and he favored segregation (though I imagine his version would have been kinder and gentler than what happened OTL, kind of a “everyone is equal, but whites are more equal than blacks” arrangement.) So we could certainly expect some measure of Jim Crow but maybe with a lot fewer lynchings.

 

[Mikestone8]

There probably would be a KKK but it might fizzle out if Reconstruction goes well. Bear in mind that Lincoln did not expect black and white people to live together peacefully, and he favored segregation (though I imagine his version would have been kinder and gentler than what happened OTL, kind of a “everyone is equal, but whites are more equal than blacks” arrangement.) So we could certainly expect some measure of Jim Crow but maybe with a lot fewer lynchings.

And if Lincoln is content with enfranchising Black Union veterans and a few others, there may be a lot less need for a KKK, as this will leave Southern Whites in firm control of their states.

 

[Dixieland1861]

I don't think the KKK would gain much influence or power if Lincoln wasn't assassinated at Booth Theater. The KKK gained influence when the U.S. in the post-Lincoln, Reconstruction era was occupying the southern states militarily and Lincoln wouldn't be happy with a group that lynches blacks, Union sympathizers, and so-called carpetbaggers and scalawags, he'd cracked down on them hard.

 

[Mikestone8]

I don't think the KKK would gain much influence or power if Lincoln wasn't assassinated at Booth Theater. The KKK gained influence when the U.S. in the post-Lincoln, Reconstruction era was occupying the southern states militarily and Lincoln wouldn't be happy with a group that lynches blacks, Union sympathizers, and so-called carpetbaggers and scalawags, he'd cracked down on them hard.

As Grant tried to do, w/o success. No reason why Lincoln shd fare any better.

But as I said above, if he doesn't go as far as the Radicals with regard to Black suffrage, Southern Whites may well see less need for a KKK. or for the activities you describe

 

[CountDVB]

As Grant tried to do, w/o success. No reason why Lincoln shd fare any better.

But as I said above, if he doesn't go as far as the Radicals with regard to Black suffrage, Southern Whites may well see less need for a KKK. or for the activities you describe

Because while Grant was all right, he was a lousy president with a corrupt administration. Lincoln may be able to fare better.

 

[raharris1973]

And if Lincoln is content with enfranchising Black Union veterans and a few others, there may be a lot less need for a KKK, as this will leave Southern Whites in firm control of their states.

But as I said above, if he doesn't go as far as the Radicals with regard to Black suffrage, Southern Whites may well see less need for a KKK. or for the activities you describe

I could see the logic in that, but it may be a bit optimistic. After all, the late 1870s saw "redeemed" governments taking over all the southern states and political violence declining with white supremacists happy to have won. But by the 1890s, that wasn't enough and another wave of lynchings and disenfranchisements took place, and then again in the 1920s.

The demands of white supremacy and "sufficient" black acquiescence to that were a moving target, not a static target.

 

[Mikestone8]

Because while Grant was all right, he was a lousy president with a corrupt administration. Lincoln may be able to fare better.

Don't really see it. Those who resisted Reconstruction did not do so because the Administration was corrupt. And Lincoln has no more resources than Grant.

And if the South has been readmitted with only limited Black suffrage, there may be less to fight about anyway.

 

[comradepitrovsky]

Yes, you can't fiat racism.