Who Are the Illuminati?

7. Early Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories about the organization sprang up soon after their dissolution. In America, these were encouraged by a letter Washington wrote addressing the Illuminati threat. Jefferson defended Weishaupt, which led to accusations that he was a member. Many of the conspiracies in the New World were tied to the Freemasons, as both Founding Fathers and Illuminati were Freemasons. The placement of the Eye of Providence, a well-known Freemason symbol, on U.S. money has helped keep these conspiracy theories alive.