What is Knights of the Golden Circle?

The Knights of the Golden Circle

The Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) was a non-Masonic, semi-military secret society that operated primarily in the Midwestern and Southern United States during the years leading up to and throughout the American Civil War.

The organization was founded in 1859 by George W. L. Bickley, an adventurer and physician. According to Britannica, Bickley’s original vision was to establish military colonies of Americans in Mexico, eventually leading to the annexation of all Mexican territory into the United States. His grand design envisioned a vast “golden circle” of slaveholding states stretching from the American South through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

However, as tensions between North and South escalated, the KGC’s mission quickly changed. By the time of the Civil War, the society had shifted its focus to supporting Southern secession, aiding Confederate military efforts, and intimidating Union loyalists. Historian David Keehn notes that the KGC played a role in helping to organize and recruit for the early Confederate army.

According to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, the KGC was “a mysterious southern-based society” that sought to expand the institution of slavery into Latin America, effectively creating a new slave empire.

Despite its ambitious plans and secretive image, the KGC never came close to achieving its goals. Much of what is said about the group is shrouded in legend, rumor, and conspiracy theories, with its true influence likely far smaller than later myths suggest.

It is also important to note that the Knights of the Golden Circle is not to be confused with the later organization known as the Sons of Liberty, which had a different origin and purpose.

The Knights of the Golden Circle was a shadowy, semi-military secret society founded in 1859 by George Bickley, originally aimed at expanding U.S. territory southward into Mexico. As the Civil War began, its mission evolved into supporting Confederate secession and anti-Union activities. While surrounded by mystery and myth, the KGC remains one of the more colorful and controversial secret societies of 19th-century America.