In the beginning, the klan was a secret fraternity club rather than a terrorist organization. Lcusz62119565 in the summer of 1867, the klan was structured into the invisible empire of the south at a convention in nashville, tennessee, attended by delegates from former confederate states. At a drinking social club in pulaski, tennessee, the ku klux klan emerged from kyklos or kuklos a greek word which means a circle. This second generation of the klan was not only antiblack but also took a stand against roman catholics, jews, foreigners and organized labor. The ku klux klan kkk or the klan, dedicated to white supremacy, is americas bestknown hate group. Ku klux klan history true history of the ku klux klan. Jan 25, 2017 the historian david chalmers, author of hooded americanism. Feb 10, 2017 white supremacy has a long and troubling history in the united states. The kkk has used violence and actions above the law to support their cause.
Because hate is invisible, pictures of bigots usually rely on iconography to impress sentiment on the viewer. When was the ku klux klan formed and when was the kkk at its. If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us. He has authored or coauthored 29 nonfiction books, including civil liberties. Mar 11, 2019 on march 5, 1923, the washington state house of representatives in olympia fails to act on a bill intended to quell the resurgent ku klux klan in the state, and the legislatures adjournment three days later ensures that no action will be taken on the measure. It has been around for more than years while it continues to thrive in americas. Less than a decade later, the first slaves are brought into new amsterdam.
The ku klux klan is the longest existing extremist group in the united states. Ku klux klan members argue with counterprotesters at a. The incongruous intersection of the black panther party and. Klanwatch was formed in 1981 to help curb klan and racist violence through litigation, education and monitoring. The people who organized this group called it the ku klux klan kkk. The history of the ku klux klan and their modern day. History of the original ku klux klan internet archive. The most prominent of these that gained members in several states was the knights of the white camellia which was formed in louisiana about the same time the. If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at ncjrs. This video is a digital project completed as part of professor lilia fernandezs history 4015. So for todays post, i wanted to offer a brief look back at the history of the first ku klux klan.
Founded in 1865, the ku klux klan kkk extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern. Ku klux klan kkk is the name given not so much to a specific organization as to a tradition of southern vigilantism that dates back to the time of african american slavery in the early to midnineteenth century, when slave patrols were used to guard against escape, uprising, and other sorts of misbehavior by slaves. You cant burn history getting right with the klan in. The southern states were completely devastated, as without human labour, they had no one to tend to their farms, causing their economy to collapse. The klan has existed in three distinct eras at different points in time during the history of the united states. See emily lane, state makes its case to try albert woodfox a 3rd time, timespicayune, sept. Ku klux klan history for kids andrew johnson was the 17th american president who served in office from april 15, 1865 to march 4, 1869. Ku klux klan a history of racism and violence compiled by the staff of the klanwatch project of the southern poverty law center sixth edition the southern poverty law center, montgomery, alabama.
The ku klux klan was originally organized in the winter in pulaski, tennessee as a social club by six confederate veterans. Disturbing photos of the modernday ku klux klan cbs news. It has moved through three distinctive phases of development. The ku klux klan kkk is a white supremacist group originally formed in 1865 in pulaski, tennessee, when confederate army veterans formed what they called a social club. Ku klux klan civil rights movement esl worksheet by. The term of ku klux klan in the autobiography of malcolm x. The first ku klux klan was founded lasted until the 1870s the ku klux klan was the direct result of the aftermath of the american civil war.
Guide to the ku klux klan collection the history center in tompkins county 401 east state st. After rejecting president andrew johnsons relatively lenient reconstruction policies, in place from 1865 to 1866. In the summer of 1995 noblesville, indiana, site of the sensational 1925 homicide trial of ku klux klan leader d. History course at ohio state university in the spring of 2015. The ku klux klan commonly called the kkk or the klan, is an american white supremacist hate group, whose primary target is african americans. The klan murders several thousand people in the former confederate states as an effort to suppress the political participation of black southerners and their allies. Congress passed the enforcement act, which attempted to prevent the ku klux klan from violating citizens constitutional protections but the law produced little result. From 1867 onward, africanamerican participation in public life in the south became one of the most radical aspects of reconstruction, as blacks won election.
A timeline history of the ku klux klan kkk, a white supremacist terrorist group that worked in collusion with southern segregationist governments. The rise and fall of the 1920s ku klux klan ehistory. Although founded in 1866, the klu klux klan kkk extended into almost every southern state by 1870. Nov 27, 2019 the ku klux klan, which originated in the american south after the civil war, began as a secret society dedicated to maintaining white supremacy.
In march, don roberts, a local building contractor, chanced upon a trunk in the barn of a property. The klan then in an attempt to suppress the political participation if black southerners and their allies go and kill several thousand people. The organization of the ku klux klan coincided with the beginning of the second phase of post civil warreconstruction, put into place by the more radical members of the republican party in congress. However, the klans power and standing has declined dramatically in the decades since its peak years of millionsstrong membership. This report on the history of the ku klux klan, americas first terrorist organization, was prepared by the klanwatch project of the southern poverty law center. Klan members have a history of bringing children to rallies and other gatherings. At its peak in the 1920s, klan membership exceeded 4 million people nationwide. Ku klux klan two members of the ku klux klan, illustration from harpers weekly, december 19, 1868. Timeline history of the ku klux klan kkk thoughtco. One of the important events during his presidency was the emergence of the secret organization known as the ku klux klan. The history of the kkk in american politics jstor daily. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Members of the wkkk womens ku klux klan salute the cross at a ceremony in atlanta, georgia, in 1937.
The ku klux klan was formed by army veterans of defeated southern confederates states. The story of the ku klux klan in america and in iowa. A worksheet to work on the civil rights movement it goes with my two worksheets on martin luther king and malcom x. Tennessee pulaski history publisher american library service, 1924 collection houstonlibrary. Pdf the ku klux klan emerged from the shadow of the war between the states and over the next 150 years would rapidly establish itself in. The history of the ku klux klan, has called the 1920s klan a great fraternal lodge with nationwide political power. Black people, who had been slaves before and during the war, became free after the war.
Stephenson, again drew national attention after the discovery of klan records dating back to the 1920s. The timeline below shows where the term ku klux klan appears in the autobiography of malcolm x. American discussion about race, history, and the challenges of free speech. Sep 30, 2014 authentic history ku klux klan, 18651877 davis, susan lawrence on. Canada is not immune to hate, and a look at the history of the ku klux klan s expansion efforts proves it by christine sismondo august 18, 2017 members of the ku klux klan on the veranda of an. Resistance, reactionary, and revolutionary during its. How did the ku klux klan influence the civil rights movement and what is their impact on society today. The ku klux klan is one of our nations most well known feared groups.
The ku klux klan was and is undeniably a terrorist organizationbut what made the klan an especially insidious terrorist organization, and a threat to. Authentic history ku klux klan, 18651877 davis, susan lawrence on. They are curious and usually ask a lot of questions after having done this. According to, the definition of the ku klux klan is a secret organization in the southern u. The rise and fall of the 1920s ku klux klan created by ryan w. The ku klux klan was founded in 1866 by exconfederate soldiers and other southerners opposed to reconstruction after the civil war. Writing for history extra, linda gordon explores the roots of the organisation, its explosion into a mass movement in the 1920s, and considers the political sway that the klan held in early 20thcentury america. But in all important aspects the two documents are the same, and. Following the civil war, the ku klux klan emerges to suppress and victimize newly freed slaves. A group of former confederate officers founded the ku klux klan in pulaski, tennessee sometime between december 1865 and the summer of 1866. Some white people who previously had all the power and wealth, resented their losses and feared retaliation by the newly freed blacks. Former confederate general and noted white supremacist nathan bedford forrest, architect of the fort pillow massacre, becomes the first grand wizard of the ku klux klan. For the past years, the klan has built an enduring reputation steeped in intimidation and cloaked in a veil of secrecy that few people ever penetrate.