Overall, scientific rationalism harmed European religion because educated European people began to question the beliefs of the Catholic Church rather than just accepting centuries-old ideals, undermining certain fundamental beliefs of the Church and slightly decreasing its reputation. In terms of politics, scientific rationalism began the inquiry into individual thought, causing many governmental policies to be seen as flawed and, later on, sparking revolutions.
Because the Ku Klux Klan is an organization that doesn't tolerate black people and kills them for a living. And because of that it would be called the first homegrown terrorist organization.
The passage shows that Californian politics, and in particular, political advancement methods, were not wholly bound by law as they are now.
Governmental institutions and government control was weaker at that time, so it was difficult to enforce the law consistently. Because of it, people did not have a strong commitment to following legal paths for advancement. Revolutions and rebellions were more effective in seizing power than political campaigns, and there were few negative repercussions for those who chose that method.
