The Origins Of The KKK

In 1865, six Confederate veteran soldiers formed the Ku Klux Klan.The group officially formed as a recreational club called the Ku Klux Klan.Pulaski, Tennessee, established the Klan so white Southerners could vent post-Civil War anger at Republicans.The group channeled post-Civil War anger toward Republicans.The social club first used hate for nighttime terror rides and other intimidation. These tactics aimed to stop white and Black Republicans from pursuing equality during Reconstruction. Intimidation turned into murder soon after. The U.S. government then had to start planning ways to stop the group's hate and violence.

In 1867, the Klan named former Confederate General and slave trader Nathan Bedford Forrest the first Grand Wizard.Nathan Bedford Forrest became the first Grand Wizard of the Klan.(leader) of the Klan. But in 1868, Bedford ended the group formally after seeing the Klan's rising violence. Bedford felt they strayed from their original purpose. The Klan did not stop or change its violent goals. Because the Klan lacked a clear structure, a group simply continued after Forrest ended it in 1868. The Klan also increased its violent and harmful tactics.

By 1870, the KKK's racist mission reached nearly every Southern state.Many Southerners supported this mission. Klan members set up underground campaigns to scare Republican leaders and the South's Reconstruction policies concerning equality and segregation.Reconstruction policies of the South., which involved political and economic issues about equality and segregation. By 1920, over four million KKK members existed nationwide. As the KKK membership grew, violent actions targeting African Americans and whites who supported racial equality increased seriously. At least 10% of elected African American politicians faced violence from the KKK, and seven men died because of it.

During the latter half of 1870 and into 1871, Klan members terrorized civilian minorities with horrible acts.These acts included burnings, beatings, lynchings, and murders, most done at night. South Carolina became a hotspot for Klan activity. The Klan committed one major crime there: they attacked a Union County jail and lynched several Black prisoners.The Klan carried out these acts. They attacked a Union County jail and lynched several Black prisoners in South Carolina.They attacked a Union County jail and lynched several Black prisoners.

As the Klan's violence increased, the federal government formed a committee to watch the Klan's terrible actions. As a result,By 1871, Klan member activities were classified as hate-related crimes.This forced Congress to make rules limiting the KKK's terroristic behavior.

Three Enforcement Acts, called "The KKK Acts," formed from this. These Acts let government officials intervene and arrest Klan members to stop their bad actions. President Ulysses S. Grant directed this.Federal troops sent to suppress KKK violence in South Carolina.They made over 600 KKK-related arrests there.

After the initiation of the Enforcement Acts,the violent Klan activity slowed and appeared to diminish greatly.Violent Klan activity slowed and diminished greatly.white supremacy no longer needed secret groups under dark cover. Ending Reconstruction and Jim Crow laws made it the de jure structure of the nation.White supremacy stopped needing secret groups under darkness. Reconstruction ended, Jim Crow laws passed, and white supremacy lost its cover.By 1915, Protestant nativists (who were also white supremacists) revived the Klan.They revived the Klan near Atlanta, Georgia. This second Klan revival was worse than the first. Instead of only fighting African Americans, they targeted foreigners, Roman Catholics, Jews, and organized labor.

Still, by 1876, covert white supremacy took back the Southern states. Many Southerners stayed loyal to the Klan's racist views, even though illegal KKK actions faced penalties.By 1915, Protestant nativists, who also held white supremacist views, revived the Klan.The second Klan revival near Atlanta, Georgia, was worse than the first. They targeted not just African Americans, but also foreigners, Roman Catholics, Jews, and organized labor.

The Klan eventually returned for the third time in 1946.The Russian Bolshevik triumph of 1917 caused the Great Depression.The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, focusing on ending racial discrimination and segregation. Sadly, the KKK launched murderous attacks against Black communities and activists.

One terrible act happened in 1963. Three Klan members bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church.The 1930s brought the Great Depression to America.This depressed the Klan's membership. The Klan had no choice but to temporarily disband. However, the Klan eventually reappeared for the third time in 1946.

During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement occurred.The Civil Rights Movement focused on ending racial discrimination and segregation.The KKK attacked during this time. They committed many heinous acts targeting Black communities and activists.

One terrible act happened in 1963. Three Klan members bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church.Three Klan members bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church.Four innocent African American girls died in the bombing in Birmingham, AL. Though the bombers faced conviction and sentencing, other Klan members continued bombing Black churches. By 1964, over 20 Black churches suffered bomb attacks.

The KKK's hate worsened as the 1960s became the 1970s. Klan members showed hate and retaliation toward all activists of color and protesters supporting the Civil Rights Movement. Various Klan members faced arrests and charges for horrific murders, including deadly beatings, mutilations, and shootings.

By 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a televised speech condemning the Klan's terrible actions and its existence, calling them[a] hooded society of bigots.He shamed them more by saying the Klan struck at night because their goals could not survive in the light.

As 1970 approached, Klan violence became more isolated due to greater government focus on the group's terroristic acts. Yet, the Klan did not end by the 1990s; it grew. The original Klan split into over 40 white supremacist groups, such as the Knights of the KKK and the Imperial Klans of America. Today, many KKK members stay active as right-wing extremists and Neo-Nazis. Since the '90s, the KKK has become anThe group estimated five thousand members.its largest membership numbers exist in the South and Midwest states.

People probably picture the KKK with their white hoods and robes. However, only some members wore costumes during the 1860s and 1870s, picking whatever clothes they wanted. Klansmen wore everything from animal horns to polka dots before dress became standard.By 1915, the Klan established its signature look as the dress code for its members.This look may have come from Hollywood.It took its inspiration from D.W. Griffith's use of the look in his 1915 filmThe Birth of a Nation.

For years, myths suggested the Klan robes represented the ghosts offallen Confederate soldiersor to praise the rebel New York "Calico Indians." Some claim Griffith used the look after seeing someone in his father's mixed Klan group wear it. But while the uniforms might have let members hide their identities while committing hate crimes, the clothing gave the Klan popular status as white supremacists and caused fear in those they harmed.

When the second Klan revival started in the early 20th century, the Klan took heavy influence from 20th-century fraternal societieslike the Masons and the Elks. This caused them to create hidden titles, symbols, and clothing. The colored robes and hoods Klan members wear show their specific title in the group's social structure.The colored robes and hoods Klan members wear show their specific title in the group's social structure.For example, Knighthawks wear black clothes, showing their role as Klan security. Imperial Wizards, however, often wear purple or blue to show their leadership.

The rank titles also change over time. During the first Klan era, the leader was the Grand Wizard. By the second Klan era, the leader was called an Imperial Wizard.