The Ku Klux Klan And The Civil Rights Movement - 1411 Words

Founded in 1866, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican party’s reconstruction-era polices aimed at establishing political and economic equality for blacks. Its members waged an unseen war of intimidation and violence directed at white and black republican leaders. Through congress passed legislation designed to stop and contain Klan terrorism, the organization saw its primary goal fulfilled through democratic victories in state legislatures across the south in the 1870s. After a period of decline, white protestant nativist group’s revived the Klan in the early 20th century, burning crosses and staging rallies, parades and marches†¦show more content†¦Shortly after the formation of the KKK, Nathan Bedford Forrest, a former slave trader and confederate general, assumed control of the organization and turned it into a militaristic, hierarchical entity. In 1868, Forrest formally disbanded the group after he became appalled by its growing violence. Despite his disbandment the KKK continued to grow, and its atrocities worsened. Drawing the core of its membership from ex-confederate soldiers, the KKK may have numbered several hundred thousand at its height during reconstruction. In1871, the federal government took several steps to counter the KKK and its violence. Congress organized a joint select committee made up of seven senators and 14 representatives of the house to look into the Klan and its activities. It then passed the civil rights act of 1871, frequently referred to as the Ku Klux Klan act, which made night riding a crime and empowered the president to order the use of federal troops to put down conspirators by force. The law also provided criminal and civil penalties for people convicted of privet conspiracies (such as those perpetrated by the KKK) intended to deny others their civil rights. Some distinguished members of congress and the Supreme Court were also involved in the KKK. Hugo L. Black was a prominent member of the U.S. Supreme Court and a former senator was a suspected KKK member. Black was a member of the KuShow MoreRelatedThe Ku Klux Klan And The Civil Rights Movement1237 Words   |  5 Pagesother groups during the World War II and the Civil Rights Movement periods. This hatred and cruelty was brought upon those who did not believe in causes that these white supremacists wanted them to believe in. The creation of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a major contributing factor to racism and prejudice in America for over 100 years. Many opposed the KKK, but there was a slight few that supported the Klan, glorifying them and their cause. The Ku Klux Klan is known as a racial hate group, who forcedRead MoreThe Klan s Organized Terrorism1114 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan had three eras, an era ends when the Ku Klux Klan movement dies out or they loss the need for it. Each era may have its own intentions or what their main goal is, but white supremacy is still their goal just trying to accomplish it in different ways, while also opposing thing that may go against their moral code, like gay marriage. The Ku Klux Klan is an origination focused on having white supremacy, it has existed for many years and has had three eras, it is most known for its actRead MoreTaking a Look at the Ku Klux Klan892 Words   |  4 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan was known as the biggest hate group in American History, and they are responsible for thousands of innocent blacks’ deaths. The Ku Klux Klan made it very hard for the blacks, Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and homosexuals to live a normal life. The Klan made them live in fear. The Ku Klux Klan was a racial hate group in the south that made sure blacks did not get any civil rights. Members in the Ku Klux Klan believed whites were superior to other races. The KKK hated the blacks becauseRead MoreThe Resurgence Of The Kkk944 Words   |  4 PagesThe Resurgence of the KKK Racism has been deep-rooted in American history. Racism that arose in the 1920s involved infamous race riots, lynching, the Sweet Case, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. However, out of all these other factors, the Ku Klux Klan has left a huge impact on American history. To begin, there were many ways to show racism but, race riots were most common. One of the most famous race riots happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On the thirty first of May till the first of June in 1921Read MoreThe Ku Klux Klan And The Klan820 Words   |  4 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan has massively reduced by 1927. While it peaked from having over 3 million members in 1925, it had no more than several hundred thousand in 1927. Night riding of the Klan led to at least 50 people getting flogged during a two year period. Outcries of the populace of Georgia and the Carolinas brought arrests and convictions of the Klan. Therefore, the Klan was forced to retreat. The Klan endured other handicap when local Klan in the North chapters began to develop ties with AmericanRead MoreThe Role of the Ku Klux Klan in U.S. Society Essay1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of the Ku Klux Klan in U.S. Society Originally, the Ku Klux Klan was founded immediately after the Civil war and lasted until the 1870’s, after which it collapsed. The Klan was then reformed in 1915 and is still conducting till the present day. The Activists had set up for many different reasons, the foremost ones being, to create a business or rather as a ‘social club’, invite members who were anti-Civil war and of course to restore white supremacy after theirRead MoreThe Black Klux Klan And The New Black Panther Party857 Words   |  4 PagesEverybody Love Everybody Many people are aware of the largest hate groups found in the United States. Two of them being the Ku Klux Klan and the New Black Panther Party. They threaten or harm a specific population, and both cause diversity in the United States. The Black Lives Matter movement is a hate group because they threaten and harm a specific population using physical abuse and speech while causing diversity in the United States. Mark Twain once said, â€Å"Actions speak louder than words†Read MoreThe Ku Klux Klan And American History1042 Words   |  5 PagesMartin World History Section 4 4-29-16 The Ku Klux Klan For much of American history, ethnic groups other than caucasian have struggled greatly. One of the groups that has struggled a lot is African Americans. This group has had to suffer through slavery and segregation for the purpose of much of American history. Their struggle became more difficult in the occasion of the Ku Klux Klan (Ku Klux Klan) was founded. The formation of the Ku Klux Klan was one of the main factors of the bloody struggleRead MoreThe Ku Klux Klan ( Kkk )1554 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan (KKK) came into being in 1865 and was widespread in the southern states of the USA. It was founded by former Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee. It was a movement, formed after the civil war of America, to oppress the Republican Party’s policies of reconstruction. Few years after its formation, the movement engaged in war, fear and hatred in the war-ravaged south. The group’s activities during this period have had adverse effects on the American society that still haunt themRead MoreFederal Government s Intervention Into The Ku Klux Klan s Activities2284 Words   |  10 Pagesthe Ku Klux Klan’s Activities In the late 1800’s, during the period of Reconstruction, there was fear and hate of African Americans by white southerners. This fear and hate rooted from the fact that African American’s now had the same rights and freedoms as white people. This caused an uproar. Because of this, people were coming together and sharing their feelings and ideas about the newly freed African Americans. This is how the KKK, also known as the Ku Klux Klan, came about. The Ku Klux Klan