Hidden Power: The Influential History of Secret Societies in American Democracy
Throughout American history, secret societies have played a fascinating role in shaping our democracy. From the Freemasons who influenced the founding fathers to various underground organizations operating behind the scenes, these groups have inspired both legitimate concerns and unfounded paranoia. The fear of hidden powers has been a consistent undercurrent in American political life, creating tensions between transparency and secrecy that continue to this day.
Colin Dickey's exploration of this phenomenon reveals surprising insights into how these secretive organizations have influenced American history. The Freemasons, for instance, were instrumental in establishing early American governance, with prominent members including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Rather than operating entirely in shadow, many of these groups openly displayed their symbols and affiliations while maintaining certain private practices that fueled both curiosity and suspicion among the general public.
Key Takeaways
Secret societies have significantly influenced American democracy since the nation's founding.
The Freemasons provided an alternative model of merit-based status that appealed to America's founding fathers.
Historical evidence shows some secret organizations served legitimate purposes while others became subjects of exaggerated claims and conspiracy theories.
Guest Introduction
Colin Dickey's Academic and Literary Background
Colin Dickey grew up near the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, which likely sparked his interest in unusual histories. He holds a PhD in Literature from the University of Southern California and has built his career exploring strange objects and hidden historical narratives across America.
Dickey contributes regularly to prestigious publications including the LA Review of Books and Lapham's Quarterly. He co-edited The Morbid Anatomy Anthology with Joanna Ebstein and belongs to the Order of the Good Death, a collective of professionals working to improve Western attitudes toward mortality.
His previous work examined mythical creatures and unexplained phenomena, including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and UFOs. This exploration of mysterious entities and government secrecy naturally led to his current focus on secret societies and their historical impact on American democracy. His research reveals surprising findings:
Legitimate historical groups operated in secrecy for justified reasons (like the Underground Railroad)
Freemasonry played a crucial role in America's founding, with members including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington
Masonic symbols were incorporated openly into American institutions, appearing on currency and government buildings
Historical fabrications have emerged, such as the entirely fictional claim by an ex-French priest that he was Abraham Lincoln's secret confidant
In his research, Dickey discovered both legitimate historical secret organizations (like the Underground Railroad) and more questionable conspiracy theories. He particularly highlights Freemasonry's significant influence on America's founding, noting that prominent figures like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington were Masons who openly incorporated Masonic symbols into early American institutions.
Under the Scrutiny of Authority
The Foundations of Clandestine Organizations
The roots of secretive groups in America stretch back to the nation's founding era. Freemasonry played a crucial role in shaping early American democracy, with founding fathers like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington being active members. Rather than operating completely in shadows, these early Masons frequently conducted public parades in Philadelphia and Boston, proudly displaying their regalia and symbols.
Masonic influence appears throughout American governmental symbolism, including imagery on currency like the one-dollar bill. Their vision wasn't about creating a hidden power structure but establishing a new form of accessible aristocracy—one based on merit rather than hereditary nobility. This represented a significant departure from European systems while still maintaining certain hierarchical elements.
Historical evidence suggests these secret societies served various purposes across American history. Some operated to challenge unjust laws, like the Underground Railroad which worked covertly to help enslaved people escape to freedom in direct violation of the Fugitive Slave Law. This demonstrates how some secretive organizations fought against oppressive systems rather than supporting them.
The line between legitimate conspiracies and unfounded theories often blurs in historical accounts. For example, after Lincoln's assassination, a former French priest named Chaniqua fabricated an elaborate memoir claiming close friendship with the president. Despite having only one documented legal interaction with Lincoln years earlier, he invented detailed stories about regular White House visits and confidential conversations.
Secret societies have inspired both genuine concern and excessive paranoia throughout American history. Understanding this complex relationship helps clarify how fears of hidden powers have continuously shaped the nation's democratic development and public discourse.
The Origins of Secret Societies
Secret societies in America emerged from various traditions, with Freemasonry establishing perhaps the most influential model. These groups typically featured:
Elaborate rituals and symbols that created a sense of belonging
Hierarchical structures with different levels of access and knowledge
Stated philosophical principles often focused on self-improvement
Selective membership creating exclusivity and mystique
Rather than attempting to overthrow existing power structures, many of these early groups sought to work within them while creating parallel systems of influence and connection. Their semi-public nature—maintaining some secrecy while also displaying certain aspects of their identity—created a template that numerous later organizations would follow.
The popularity of these groups expanded significantly in the 19th century as Americans sought community and meaning during periods of rapid social change. This growth sparked both fascination and fear, particularly among those who felt excluded from these networks of influence.
Secret societies have followed a consistent pattern in American history: they arise during times of uncertainty, provide structure and identity for members, generate suspicion among non-members, and eventually trigger public backlash when their influence appears to threaten democratic principles.
Secret Societies Throughout History
The Illuminati and Their Influence on Society
The Illuminati has long captured public imagination and concern. Founded in Bavaria in the late 18th century, this organization initially promoted rationalism and secular thought during the Enlightenment period. Their influence has been both overestimated and misunderstood throughout history.
While short-lived in its original form, the concept of the Illuminati evolved into a powerful symbol that continues to resonate in contemporary discourse. Many believe this group operated behind the scenes to manipulate world events, though historical evidence for such widespread control remains limited.
The fear of Illuminati influence has shaped American democratic institutions in subtle ways. This apprehension about secret control has periodically fueled political movements and public discourse around transparency in governance.
Significant Secret Organizations Through Time
Freemasonry stands as perhaps the most influential secret society in American history. Many founding fathers, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, were active Freemasons. Their vision wasn't to create a nobility based on birth but rather a form of American aristocracy based on merit and character.
Masonic symbols appear throughout American iconography, including on the one-dollar bill and in government architecture. Rather than hiding their association, early American Freemasons often displayed their membership proudly through public parades and ceremonies.
The Underground Railroad represents a different type of secret organization—one formed for moral purposes that contravened unjust laws. This network operated covertly to help enslaved people escape to freedom, deliberately violating the Fugitive Slave Law.
Other notable secret groups have appeared throughout American history, some with documented activities and others shrouded in exaggeration or fabrication. For instance, after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, a former French priest named Chiniquy falsely claimed close friendship with Lincoln, alleging secret White House visits that never occurred.
Secret societies have often emerged during periods of social transformation, serving as both cause and effect of changing power structures. Their true impact must be measured against documented evidence rather than sensationalized claims.
Weighing Reality Against Folklore
Hidden Organizations and Public Opinion
Secret societies have long captured the American imagination, creating both fascination and fear. Throughout history, groups like the Freemasons have played significant roles in shaping national identity. The Freemasons included founding fathers such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, who used the organization not as a truly secretive entity but as a means to establish a merit-based aristocracy rather than one founded on hereditary nobility.
Masonic symbols appear prominently on American currency and in government buildings not because they were hidden influences, but because they represented values the founders wanted to display publicly. These organizations conducted public parades in Philadelphia and Boston, showcasing their regalia and aprons as symbols of their status as "first among equals" in the new republic.
Historical records sometimes become distorted through false claims. One notable example involves a former French priest named Chiniquy who, after having Abraham Lincoln represent him in a defamation case, later fabricated an elaborate friendship with the president. Following Lincoln's assassination, Chiniquy published a memoir claiming intimate access to the White House and presidential confidences, assertions that had no basis in reality.
The Underground Railroad as a Covert System
Some secret networks have operated with moral purpose despite breaking existing laws. The Underground Railroad represents one of the most significant examples of justified covert operations in American history. This network of safe houses and secret routes helped enslaved people escape to freedom, violating the unjust Fugitive Slave Law in the process.
Key features of the Underground Railroad:
Operated through hidden communication channels
Maintained secrecy to protect both escapees and helpers
Used coded language and symbols to coordinate movements
Functioned as a moral resistance against legally sanctioned injustice
This historical example demonstrates how not all secretive organizations deserve suspicion or fear. The Underground Railroad operated covertly not to subvert democratic principles but to extend basic human freedoms to those denied them by law. This distinction helps illustrate the complexity of evaluating hidden networks in American history—some secretive operations have advanced justice while others may have threatened it.
The Hidden Hands: Freemasonry's Impact on American Society
Masonic Membership Among the Nation's Architects
The United States might look quite different today without the influence of Freemasonry. Many of the nation's founders, including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, were active members of this fraternal organization. These men sought to create a new form of leadership class in America—one based not on hereditary nobility as in Britain, but on merit and character.
Freemasonry provided a framework for these ambitions. Members participated in elaborate public parades in major cities like Philadelphia and Boston, proudly displaying their regalia and ceremonial aprons. Rather than operating in complete secrecy, these Masonic activities were intentionally visible, serving as public demonstrations of the members' status as exemplary citizens.
The Masonic vision helped shape the early republic's ideals. These founders wanted to establish themselves as "first among equals"—distinguished leaders in a democratic society where leadership positions were theoretically accessible to all (though initially limited to white male property owners).
Government Imagery and Financial Iconography
Masonic symbolism remains embedded throughout American government institutions and currency to this day. The imagery found on the one-dollar bill provides perhaps the most recognizable example of this influence, featuring several elements connected to Masonic traditions.
The placement of these symbols wasn't accidental or secretive—it reflected the proud Masonic membership of many government officials who helped design these elements. These symbols served as public reminders of the values and principles they associated with their fraternal organization.
Some notable Masonic-influenced symbols include:
The All-Seeing Eye above the unfinished pyramid
The Great Seal with its specific numerical patterns
Architectural elements in government buildings
These visual elements weren't intended to be hidden messages but rather open declarations of the Masonic principles that many founders believed should guide the new nation.
Examining Credibility and Suspicion
Distinguishing Between Plausible and Implausible Conspiracies
When analyzing secretive organizations throughout American history, it's important to separate legitimate secret operations from unfounded theories. The evidence shows both categories exist, with factually correct operations sometimes overlooked while baseless claims receive excessive attention.
The Underground Railroad represents a proven secret organization with noble intentions. This network operated covertly to violate the Fugitive Slave Law, working against an unjust system to help enslaved people escape to freedom. Their secrecy was necessary for their moral mission.
Freemasonry holds a complex place in American history. Many Founding Fathers including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington were active Freemasons. Rather than hiding their involvement, early American Freemasons conducted public parades in major cities like Philadelphia and Boston, displaying their regalia and symbols proudly.
The Masonic Influence on Early America:
Prominent in government symbolism (including the dollar bill)
Represented an alternative to hereditary aristocracy
Created a merit-based system of recognition
Established a framework for "first among equals" in the new republic
The founders appeared interested in creating an accessible form of aristocracy based on merit rather than birth - a system where any worthy individual could join, unlike the British nobility system.
Historical fabrications also emerge around secret societies. After Lincoln's assassination, a former French priest named Cheniqua published false memoirs claiming a close friendship with Lincoln. Despite having only one documented interaction during a defamation lawsuit, Cheniqua invented elaborate stories about secret White House visits and confidential conversations that had no basis in reality.
When evaluating conspiracy theories, consider these key questions:
Is there documentary evidence?
Do the claims contradict established historical facts?
What motivation might exist for spreading false information?
Does the theory align with known aspects of the organization's behavior?
The most credible assessment of secretive groups requires balancing healthy skepticism with careful research, avoiding both blind dismissal and uncritical acceptance.
Historical Oddities Worth Noting
The Curious Tale of Chiniquy and President Lincoln
The 1850s brought an unusual connection that would later become one of America's strangest historical fabrications. A former French-Canadian priest named Chiniquy, who had renounced Catholicism and become an outspoken anti-Catholic figure, found himself entangled in a defamation lawsuit. Seeking legal representation, he retained the services of a young attorney named Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln successfully helped Chiniquy get the defamation case dismissed. By all official accounts and historical records, this professional interaction marked the entire extent of their relationship. Their paths appeared to diverge completely after this single legal matter concluded.
However, following Lincoln's assassination, Chiniquy published a memoir containing remarkable claims. In this document, he asserted that he and Lincoln had maintained a close, continuous friendship long after the lawsuit. His most extraordinary claim: that he had been a regular, secret visitor to the White House during Lincoln's presidency.
These assertions have been thoroughly debunked by historians. No credible evidence exists supporting any ongoing relationship between the two men after their brief professional interaction in 1850. The fabricated friendship represents a classic case of historical opportunism, where an individual attempted to elevate their own importance by claiming intimate connections with a martyred president.
The Chiniquy-Lincoln fabrication stands as a reminder of how historical records can be manipulated through bold claims made after key figures are no longer alive to refute them.
