A Native Weed

In his book, Joseph Kelly argues that the origins of fascism are rooted in United States traditions rather than Europe. Kelly, a professor of history and literature at the College of Charleston, describes fascism as a native American phenomenon that can be traced back to the nineteenth century.

Kelly contends that in the early 1800s, a small group of people invested in slavery began promoting human inequality and attacking the concept of equality. He suggests this movement fostered white nationalism, which was later used by Southern elites and Northern industrialists against those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. According to Kelly, these industrial leaders repurposed the racial caste system from the South to divide white populations.