Final answer:
The American college fraternity is believed to have evolved from the Freemasons, which existed from the early eighteenth century, with their meetings held in Masonic lodges and other locales. The National Pan-Hellenic Council and prominent organizations like Alpha Kappa Alpha trace their origins to this framework. College fraternities grew rapidly alongside the increase in college enrollment at the turn of the 20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is generally recognized that the American college fraternity grew out of an organization known as the Freemasons, which existed at various points in time, with one of the earliest being in the early eighteenth century. Their meetings are said to have been held in Masonic lodges, coffeehouses, and other gathering spaces. The Freemasons were known for advocating Enlightenment principles of inquiry and tolerance, and their structure provided a model for subsequent fraternal organizations, including the collegiate fraternities that emerged in the United States. The extension into the university setting led to the creation of various fraternities and sororities, such as the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first Black women's intercollegiate Greek organization founded at Howard University in 1908.The turn of the 20th century witnessed a rapid growth in college enrollment and the formation of new college fraternities and sororities. This growth created virtual cities of youths with collegiate Greek life often being an integral part of the student experience. These organizations not only provided fellowship but also connections to larger networks, social support, and could be inclined to various cultural and political agendas of the time, as was the case with other social clubs and fraternities like the Veterans Benevolent Association and the Student Homophile League.