D. W.
Griffith based his movie on material taken from two novels by
Thomas Dixon: The Leopard's Spots and The Klansman. At first
Birth of a Nation was censored in some cities in the North and
West for being inflammatory because of its racial attitudes.
This angered many who claimed that it was, in fact, a truthful
account of the Klan. Concerned by the official opposition to the
movie, Dixon contacted an old college friend who was then
occupying the White House. President Woodrow Wilson consented to
a special White House showing of the picture. After the White
House showing, opposition throughout the North and West
disintegrated, and the movie went on to become a gigantic
success. It grossed eighteen million dollars. While much of this
success was undoubtedly due to its appeal to common underlying
racial prejudice in the American character, it must also be
admitted that much of the popularity was due to the fact that it
was the first full-length successful movie and that it had much
entertainment value.
Colonel William J. Simmons chose the opening of the movie in
Atlanta, Georgia, as the time to launch his Klan revival.
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