Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan is a secret, right-wing extremist organisation in the United States. It was established in Tennessee in 1866 by six veterans of the Confederate Army with the purpose of re-establishing white supremacy in America.
Keywords
- lynching (n.)
- banishment (n.)
- prosecute (v.)
- revival (n.)
- civic group (n.)
Background
After the Civil War, slavery was forbidden and freed African Americans were given the right to vote. The KKK's main goal was to stop black people from voting. Their methods quickly developed into terrorism. Members wore white costumes: robes, masks and conical hats, designed to be outlandish and terrifying and to hide their identities. They practised nightly lynchings, whippings, abductions, and killings, primarily of blacks but also of white opponents. They would attack successful black businesses, burn down black schools and churches, and threaten anyone who defended the rights of African Americans.
Banishment
In 1870, a federal grand jury decided that the KKK was a terrorist organisation. In 1871, its violent actions were prohibited with the enactment of the so-called Ku Klux Klan Act. Hundreds of Klan members were accused and prosecuted for crimes of violence, murder and terrorism. Many fled to avoid punishment and the Klan was formally dissolved, but continued on a local level.
First Revival
In 1915, the Ku Klux Klan re-emerged in Georgia. The patriotism of World War I and the fear of immigration created a breeding ground for the movement, especially among white, protestant farmers in the South. The KKK held meetings and cross burnings and used modern marketing methods to gain popularity. Around 1925, they reached about 4-5 million members, which is considered the highest number in the history of the organisation. However, when a civic group began publishing Klan membership lists, there was a rapid decline in members.
Second Revival
In the 1960s, the KKK had its second revival as a reaction to the increasing influence of the Civil Rights Movement. The Klan resumed its old acts of terrorism and killed several civil rights activists. By the end of the 1960s, the organisation was dissolved into smaller fractions and lost its impact.
Did you know
that KKK subgroups grew substantially after the 2008 election of former President Barack Obama?
The Klan Today
The modern KKK is no longer one united organisation, but is instead composed of small independent groups across the U.S. This makes it harder to infiltrate, and it is therefore difficult to estimate how many members the KKK has today.