A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America and the Woman Who Stopped Them Summary | Michael Finkel

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We offer you a deeper guide, summaries, and analysis of Timothy Egan's book "A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America and the Woman Who Stopped Them," a bestselling book that delves into the dark activities of the KKK led by ruthless Stephenson, who were targeting Black Americans, Jews, and Catholics. And how Madge Oberholtzer became their doom. 

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Snap Read
• Release date: Apr 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9791223027851

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A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

Summary

Timothy Egan

Snap Read

Table of Contents

Copyright

Overview

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Epilogue

Quotes from the book

Copyright

This book is protected by copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Copyright © 2024 by Snap Read.

All Rights Reserved.

Overview

In Timothy Egan's book published in 2023, " A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them," we travel back in time to the 1920s, a decade often remembered for flappers and jazz. However, Egan reveals a darker side of this era, focusing on the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in the surprising location of Indiana. This historical account isn't just a dry recitation of facts. Egan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with a keen eye for storytelling, uses meticulous research to paint a vivid picture of this period. He weaves together historical details with the suspenseful elements of a thriller, making this dark chapter in American history all the more gripping.

Egan introduces us to two key figures: David C. Stephenson and Madge Oberholtzer. Stephenson was no ordinary leader. A cunning con artist, he preyed on the fears and racial prejudices simmering beneath the surface of American society. Egan exposes how Stephenson manipulated these anxieties to build a KKK empire with himself at the helm. On the other side stands Madge Oberholtzer, a woman determined to stop him. As the story unfolds, we'll see how this unlikely heroine challenges Stephenson's reign and his vision of a hate-filled America.

Section 1: An Empire of Hate

Introduction 

This chapter opens with a chilling scene: David Stephenson, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in Indiana, attending the inauguration of the state's new governor. This wasn't just any appearance; it was a powerful symbol of the KKK's growing influence. Stephenson, also known as the Old Man, had revived the hate group and spread its terror across the country, targeting Black Americans, Jews, and Catholics.

The Klan operated with shocking impunity. Police officers, judges, politicians, and even religious leaders were all members, giving the Klan immense control. This wasn't just a Southern phenomenon either; Klan chapters had infiltrated governments and even the military nationwide. Fueling their hatred with racist pseudoscience, the Klan advocated for the forced sterilization of people they deemed undesirable. 

With Indiana's political landscape perfectly positioned for his rise—the senior senator on his deathbed and the new governor, Ed Jackson, a fellow Klansman—Stephenson was practically guaranteed a future Senate seat himself. However, the public perception of the Klan was wildly inaccurate. Many saw them as a disorganized group of fools, led