Christian Party (United States, 1930s)

The Christian Party was an American fascist political party which was founded by William Dudley Pelley in 1935.[1] He chose 16 August 1935 as the Christian Party's founding date, because it was a so-called "pyramid date".[2] The party can be considered the political wing of Pelley's paramilitary organization, the Silver Legion of America. It ran with Pelley as its candidate for the 1936 presidential campaign[3] (Silver Legion member Willard Kemp was the vice presidential candidate). Pelley gained just 1,600 votes in the election.[4] The party quickly vanished after the United States entered World War II.

Christian Party
LeaderWilliam Dudley Pelley
FounderWilliam Dudley Pelley
FoundedAugust 16, 1935 (1935-08-16)
Dissolvedcirca 1939
HeadquartersAsheville, North Carolina, U.S
Paramilitary wingSilver Legion of America
IdeologyChristian fascism
Colors  Silver

References

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  1. ^ Barkun, Michael (1997). Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement. UNC Press Books. p. 91. ISBN 9780807846384.
  2. ^ Scott Beekman: William Dudley Pelley – A Life in Right-Wing Extremism and the Occult, Syracuse (NY): Syracuse University Press 2005, p. 113.
  3. ^ Schultz, Will. "William Dudley Pelley (1885-1965)". North Carolina History Project. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Beekman, Scott (October 31, 2006). "Pelley, William Dudley". American National Biography (online ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1501310. (subscription required)