The+Ku+Klux+Klan

Ku Klux Klan by alex and cedrick There are three phases of the Ku Klux Klan –first 1860-second 1915-1944 third 1960-. The first one was founded by general Nathan Bedford forest. His goal was to destroy congressional reconstruction by murdering blacks and some whites. Many state public officials throughout the nation were members including Dave duke and George Wallace both of which ran for President. The Klan purposed to restore white supremacy in the aftermath of the American Civil War. They killed blacks leaving them in the road. Former Confederate Brigadier General George Gordon developed “Prescript” or Klan dogma, suggesting elements of white supremacist belief. The Klan was a military force whose purpose was to reverse the changes sweeping the south and reestablish the control of the black labor force. Ku Klux Klan spread to every southern state launching a reign of terror against Republican leaders, both black and white. Klan members adopted masks and robes that hid their identifies adding to the drama of their night rides. These “regalia” disappeared by the early 1870’s. Klan members used violence to settle old feuds as they worked to restore white dominance. Lifting the Klan mask reveals chaotic multitude of anti-black vigilante group of white farmers, guerrilla bands, sadists, and rapists. All they had in common was what they were called Klansmen By 1868 two years after the Klan creation its activity was beginning to decrease. In 1871 President Grant signed the Ku Klux Klan Act to enforce the Civil Rights provisions for individuals under the Constitution. The Second Klan – 1915-1944. Founded at Stone Mountain, Georgia. Adding to its original anti-black ideology were anti immigrant, catholic prohibitionist and anti-Semitic. The 2nd Klan arose because the African Americans mitigate to the North. The Klan organizers, called Kleagles, signed up 1000’s of members. When the organizers were with an area, a huge rally was held ending with burning crosses. The second Klan adopted a burning cross as its symbol using it as a Klan trademark. The 2nd Klan was an organization based in urban areas reflecting the major shift of population to cities in both the north and south The Klan committed most of its murders in the south In the 1920’s the Klan had approximately 4-5 million men. Internal division and external opposition brought about a sharp decline. By 1930, it dropped to 30,000. It further fell during the great depression and World War II The Third Klan 1960-present. The Ku Klux Klan arose again when the Civil Rights Act was passed. Many of the youth from the North would go to the Southern states to help the African Americans get their rights. Most of them were murder. When the murders were brought to trial, made of mostly white jurors, the were found innocent. The Klan bombed churches killing many women and children. The Klan retaliated against any one that helped African Americans. Many famous Americans emerged in the fight for Civil Rights. John F, Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, Rosa Parks, and so on.