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It’s tempting to view QAnon’s rise as a threat to democracy – especially with a believer poised to win a seat in the House of Representatives.
But history suggests that conspiracy-based movements have been a part of America since its founding https://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
But history suggests that conspiracy-based movements have been a part of America since its founding https://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Long before the modern Republican and Democratic parties held sway, fringe movements surged, often embracing some pretty bizarre conspiracies.
Eventually, the QAnons of the past were absorbed – or alternatively, excommunicated – by mainstream parties http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Eventually, the QAnons of the past were absorbed – or alternatively, excommunicated – by mainstream parties http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
In the 1790s, the New Englander Federalists became convinced that Illuminati members headquartered in Europe were plotting to destroy the new nation.
A strange coalition of politicians and Congregational preachers joined together to sound the alarm http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
A strange coalition of politicians and Congregational preachers joined together to sound the alarm http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Some Federalist true believers argued that Thomas Jefferson was the leader of the American Illuminati and the embodiment of the Antichrist.
After Jefferson’s victory in 1800, this early movement quickly faded out – as did the Federalist Party http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
After Jefferson’s victory in 1800, this early movement quickly faded out – as did the Federalist Party http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
In the 1820s, the U.S. was left with only a single major political party, the Democratic Republicans.
In this fresh wave of paranoia, a new political party was born in 1828: the Anti-Masonic Party http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
In this fresh wave of paranoia, a new political party was born in 1828: the Anti-Masonic Party http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Back then, many political elites belonged to the Freemasons.
Members pledged secrecy, and high-ranking Masons earned titles like “master” and “high priest.” This was the “Deep State” circa 1826, complete with a star defector like Q: William Morgan http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Members pledged secrecy, and high-ranking Masons earned titles like “master” and “high priest.” This was the “Deep State” circa 1826, complete with a star defector like Q: William Morgan http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
William Morgan, critic of the Masonic Order, was arrested and promptly disappeared. A body was never found.
As one historian wrote, “Masonic secrecy became synonymous with darkness, sin, immorality, intemperance, treason, and the work of Satan” http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
As one historian wrote, “Masonic secrecy became synonymous with darkness, sin, immorality, intemperance, treason, and the work of Satan” http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
And yet, this didn& #39;t lead to the end of the republic. Instead, the Anti-Masonic Party became politically institutionalized.
In total, 40 anti-Masons went to Congress, and many more to state legislatures. It was then largely absorbed by the Whig Party http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
In total, 40 anti-Masons went to Congress, and many more to state legislatures. It was then largely absorbed by the Whig Party http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
After this, an even more elaborate set of conspiracists would soon coalesce:
–– The “Order of the Star-Spangled Banner”
–– The “Know Nothings”
–– The John Birch Society http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
–– The “Order of the Star-Spangled Banner”
–– The “Know Nothings”
–– The John Birch Society http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
In 1958, a candy magnate named Robert Welch founded the John Birch Society, a group that anticipated much of the QAnon worldview.
In his writings, Welch traced the roots of a collectivist conspiracy back to – you guessed it – the Illuminati http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
In his writings, Welch traced the roots of a collectivist conspiracy back to – you guessed it – the Illuminati http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
According to Welch, Communism was but a “tool of the total conspiracy.”
Welch held that politicians were either unwitting dupes of a master plan or ruthless agents. He considered Dwight Eisenhower “a dedicated, conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy” http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Welch held that politicians were either unwitting dupes of a master plan or ruthless agents. He considered Dwight Eisenhower “a dedicated, conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy” http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Rank-and-file Republicans flocked to Welch’s organization. At its peak, it had:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇸" title="Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten">At least 100,000 members
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📘" title="Blaues Buch" aria-label="Emoji: Blaues Buch">400 bookstores that sold Welch’s manifesto, The Blue Book, as well as the society’s other publications http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
At least 100,000 membershttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📘" title="Blaues Buch" aria-label="Emoji: Blaues Buch">400 bookstores that sold Welch’s manifesto, The Blue Book, as well as the society’s other publications https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q..." title="Rank-and-file Republicans flocked to Welch’s organization. At its peak, it had:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇸" title="Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten">At least 100,000 membershttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📘" title="Blaues Buch" aria-label="Emoji: Blaues Buch">400 bookstores that sold Welch’s manifesto, The Blue Book, as well as the society’s other publications https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q..." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
Republicans had an uneasy relationship to the John Birch Society.
Eventually it fell in the early 1960s, giving way to a larger rebranding of the party, which would ultimately propel Richard Nixon, and later, Ronald Regan, to the White House http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Eventually it fell in the early 1960s, giving way to a larger rebranding of the party, which would ultimately propel Richard Nixon, and later, Ronald Regan, to the White House http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Forty years later, we are watching the demise of that incarnation of the Republican Party.
As the two major political parties buckle under the strain of the latest realignment, conspiratorial thinking has re-emerged with the rise of QAnon http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
As the two major political parties buckle under the strain of the latest realignment, conspiratorial thinking has re-emerged with the rise of QAnon http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
All the familiar ingredients are there:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">Nativism
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">Anti-Semitism
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">A world controlled by secretive groups who are agents of secularism and Satan himself
Can our political system tame this madness? If history is any guide, there’s reason for optimism http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Can our political system tame this madness? If history is any guide, there’s reason for optimism http://trib.al/jv8J56V ">https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q...
Nativismhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">Anti-Semitismhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">A world controlled by secretive groups who are agents of secularism and Satan himselfCan our political system tame this madness? If history is any guide, there’s reason for optimism https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q..." title="All the familiar ingredients are there:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">Nativismhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">Anti-Semitismhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✔️" title="Fettes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes Häkchen">A world controlled by secretive groups who are agents of secularism and Satan himselfCan our political system tame this madness? If history is any guide, there’s reason for optimism https://trib.al/jv8J56V&q..." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
