William Dudley Pelley and the Silvershirt Legion: A case study of the Legion in Washington State, 1933-1942.
Item
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Title
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William Dudley Pelley and the Silvershirt Legion: A case study of the Legion in Washington State, 1933-1942.
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Identifier
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AAI9304674
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identifier
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9304674
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Creator
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Hoppes, Karen Eldenne.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr
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Date
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1992
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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History, United States | Biography
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Abstract
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The social, political and economic conditions in America during the 1930s provided an ideal breeding ground for rightist ideologies--chief among these was fascism. For many people seeking solutions to the problems posed during the Depression era, fascism represented a gospel of a new order. The view that political extremism was a product of imported ideologies and fanaticism ignores domestic economic and social factors and obscures the influences of charismatic leaders, local attitudes and unusual ideas.;By understanding local problems and responses--how individuals reacted and why they reacted as they did--it is possible to gain greater insight into the nature and substance of political extremism. A study of William Dudley Pelley and the Silvershirt Legion in Washington State offers such an opportunity.;In a rather odious way, what Pelley offered was salvation. He exploited the alternative ideas of astrology, spiritualism, and esoteric religions, which were closely linked in American history with utopian idealism, millennialism, and even social radicalism, to gain supporters. Each of these beliefs were included in his grandiose plans for a Christian Commonwealth.;A solid understanding of the man, his philosophical leanings and his millennialist message is necessary before one can understand the appeal of Pelley to those in the trenches. Consequently, this study first examines Pelley's political, economic and religious thought as it existed within a larger national intellectual context in America. Second, it answers questions about how the Silvershirt Legion actualized Pelley's philosophical messages. Finally it looks at how the Silvershirt Legion was implemented in a local community; how that community used the Legion to represent their local concerns thereby making the Legion different from Pelley's vision; and, what the Silvershirt Legion represented to the members. It is through such a study of local organizations that one can begin to understand the pattern of participation by "ordinary folks" in American fascist organizations.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
