...5:30 2/23/2012 Term Paper Ku Klux Klan What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Ku Klux Klan? Probably you think of mean, heartless, white people that wore white robes with a cone on top that murdered thousands of African Americans. Most of this assumption is correct but the Klan not only attacked African Americans they also attacked Jews, Roman Catholics and immigrants just to name a few. I believe that the Ku Klux Klan is one of the most feared organizations that have ever existed in American history, yet people know so little about them. Hopefully by giving you background information and the some history, you will develop a better understanding of the Klan. When the Ku Klux Klan began they were not always known as the Ku Klux Klan. When they were founded in 1866 they created their name off of the Greek word “kyklos”, meaning circle. They called themselves the KuKlux clan which meant circle of brother. They later changed their name again, to the name they still use to Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan was America’s first real terrorist group following the Civil War. The Ku Klux Klan had three very distinct movements the first from 1865-1875, the second 1915-1944, and the third movement occurred during the 1950’s and 60’s. The first movement by the Klan began around 1866 in Pulaski, Tennessee, what sparked this first movement was the rise in African American rights and they wanted to reestablish white supremacy. The Klan was founded by Confederate...
Words: 1213 - Pages: 5
...Invisible Empire of the South At the time of Ulysses S Grants’ election to the presidency, white supremacists were conducting a reign of terror throughout the south in outright defiance of the Republican-led federal government. The most violent organization to rise, during this time, was the Ku Klux Klan, otherwise known as the KKK. Formed in Pulaski, Tennessee ; the Ku Klux Klan was originally a social club, but then grew violent as they felt violated by the federal government. The Ku Klux Klan grew into a hooded terrorist organization and included all classes of society. At the Klan’s peak, the membership exceeded four million people . Abram Colby, a former slave, reported being beaten violently by a lawyer, a doctor, and several farmers...
Words: 1104 - Pages: 5
...Summary: According to the History Channel “at the end of the American civil war radical members of congress attempted to destroy the white power structures of the rebel states”(History Channel 1). The NAACP the congress of Racial Equality these campaigns wanted to give African-American a voice. Which caused the beginning of the Ku Klux Klan as well known as the (KKK) they extended far into every southern state by late 1870. Relevance to Research Question (How does this source answer my question and how does it relate to my other sources):Racism and police brutality began when the south lost the civil war against the north. They formed a group called the Ku Klux Klan to take away rights to African-Americans. The Klan became somewhat of a vehicle...
Words: 315 - Pages: 2
...Jim Crow Laws and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. The Black Codes were a set of laws made up by white southerners to ensure the newly freed blacks were restricted with activities and available to work (Black Codes. 2013). Some of the items included in the Black Codes were signing a yearly labor contract so the slave would be available for work and not move to the North. If the slave did not want to sign the contract, they faced being jailed, beaten and other forms of harm. The Black Codes restricted Blacks from entering into an interracial marriages, rent or own land and anything else that put a limit on freedom. The Black Codes were put in place to counteract the Federal Government’s move in giving freed Blacks 40 acres of land (“American Experience.” 2003) The Jim Crow Laws were a set of laws that operated primarily in the South from 1877 to the 1960s. The main premise of Jim Crow was to maintain racial segregation in public areas such as schools, restaurants and public transit. These laws were made to show black people where they ranked in terms of whites. One sign said. “No Dogs, Blacks, Mexicans” (Pilgrim, D., 2012). Some of these laws included where to sit on public transit, where they can drink water and how they are to treat white people when they cross their path. Many Christian ministers and theologians taught that whites were the Chosen people, blacks were cursed to be servants, and God supported racial segregation (2012). The Ku Klux Klan started as a group of...
Words: 1667 - Pages: 7
...The Ku-Klux-Klan: a racial organisation in the United States Table of Contents 1. Preface 1 2. History and development of the Ku-Klux-Klan 1 2.1 The first Klan 1 2.2 The second Klan: 1915- 1944 2 2.3 The third Klan: 1944-1976 4 2.4 The fourth Klan 5 2.5 The fifth Klan or 33-5 6 2.6 The Ku-Klux-Klan today 7 3. Structure and traditions of the Ku-Klux-Klan 8 3.1 Appearance, Symbols and Rituals 9 4. Conclusion 11 Bibliography 1. Preface No other conservative movement in the American history is as popular as the Ku-Klux-Klan, none was more militant, and none is so legendary to this day. During its 146 years long existence, the Klan has never disappeared. Even today it still has a strong attraction, not only for Americans, but also for people all over the world. From a small group, which was founded by six young men for their amusement, it developed into a nationwide terror regime in the United States. In the following text, I will describe the development of the Klan since its founding in 1866 until today and explain its structure and rites. 2. History and development of the Ku-Klux-Klan 2.1 The first Klan On 9th April 1865, the American Civil War ended with the result that the slavery was abolished. However, the situation of the black did hardly change. Without further education, labor and civil rights they had no chance to feel free. Moreover, the "Black Codes" were introduced, which are special laws that placed restrictions...
Words: 4964 - Pages: 20
...equal to us. In Virginia, The Ku Klux Klan has just started to reemerge itself into areas where they feel their work will most likely be appreciated, with of hopes of recruiting new members who like themselves are tired of the government and their changes. Since the reelection of President Obama, Three chapters have surfaced by way of rallies, and burning crosses, these events are held randomly to show there is zero tolerance for rights given to those who the Klan members feel are less than deserving. People are angry today about gay rights, extreme racial changes within the population and of course the fact that we have elected a black president not only one term, but bought him back for a second term. The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) are a radically driven group of individuals who channel their hatred for others that are not white in heritage. The group prides itself on its heritage within the confederacy and believes those who are not born of white decent are not entitled to the privileges of those who are. This mindset has been in existence since the early 1800”s and its meaning comes from the Scottish and Greek meaning “The Family” (Timeline of the Ku Klux Klan, 1997)where a confederate General by the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest founded the group. With the War Between the States, widows and orphans were left behind, the genesis of Ku Klux Klan was designed to help these individuals by keeping them close and safe for others. Branches of the Klan started to appear across the...
Words: 1052 - Pages: 5
...Title Author Institution The Ku Klux Klan Domestic terrorism is simply defined as terrorism practiced in one’s own country against fellow countrymen but with the many cases of terrorism being highlighted all around the world each day, terrorism has generally gained many more definitions. Regardless of this though, terrorism is one of the world’s greatest challenges in the 21st century. The United Nations Secretary General described terrorism in 2004 as any act intended to cause serious harm or death to civilians with the purpose of compelling a government or an international organization or with the objective of intimidating a population to do or refrain from doing an act. Domestic terrorism is a form of terrorism normally used to advance certain social or political interests of a group or section of the society. This form of terrorism has been occurring for a long time and it has been argued by some authorities that domestic terrorism acts were present long before the acts were legally defined (Hess & Orthmann, 2009). In the United States, domestic terrorism is a weighty matter with many terrorist groups being active all around the nation. One such group labeled as a domestic terrorist organization is the Ku Klux Klan, a right-wing white supremacist organization classified as terrorist in the US. Often abbreviated as the KKK and also known informally as The Klan, this far-right organization has advocated for extremist reactionary notions such as white...
Words: 967 - Pages: 4
...because of this domestic terrorism is going to be around for a long time. Looking through history I have found a few domestic groups that weren’t mentioned in part ones essay but I feel should be addressed. Ku Klux Klan can never be ignored as one of the most prominent of all domestic terrorist groups in the United States. Another one is Phineas Priesthood, and lastly a group Americans must focus on is Black Liberation Army. These are the three that I think should really be focused on, for they seem to be mentioned by the F.B.I. in a lot of Domestic Terrorism articles. Ku Klux Klan (KKK), just the name sounds of something bad is about to happen. The Klan has been causing havoc since 1865. Is definitely one of the oldest and most infamous for violence than any other domestic group on American. Most believe that blacks are the main subject of the Klan, but that isn’t necessary true anymore. They tend to focus on attacking Jews, immigrants, gays, and lesbians. Immigrants is their main issue now (Klu klux klan, 2013). The Klan is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Deamination League. The first Klu Klux Klan was established in the Southern States and many members would weir robes , mask, and conical hats. Hats shaped like cones. Most Klans are recognized by burning crosses and associated with opposing against...
Words: 1692 - Pages: 7
...and made contributions to American culture. Recognize and discuss the ways that formal policies of government have influenced the direction of historical and social development in the United States. Analyze the rise of the United States to a world “super-power” and how that status has shaped its internal developments in recent decades. Identify how changes in social and economic conditions and technology can cause corresponding changes in the attitudes of the people and policies of the government. Identify at least (2) two major historical turning points in the period under discussion. The first major historical turning point was the changing roles of women. Women won the right to vote with the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, one of the final great reforms of the Progressive era. A group of congressmen proposed an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution in 1923. It states: “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction” (Schultz, 2012 p.379). The amendment’s objective was to eliminate all legal distinctions between the sexes, such as those who permitted different pay scales for men and women doing the same job. The second historical turning point was the Resurgence of the Klan. The Ku Klux Klan, and organizations formed to “redeem” the South after Reconstruction, enjoyed a revival in the 1920s after being reborn in a ceremony on Georgia’s Stone Mountain in 1915. The third historical turning point was...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...Legal Lynching In America Rodney Hamilton HIST212 American Military University Latrese Adkins 3/23/2014 This paper will prove that in the late 1800s until the 1960s, white people used lynching as a form or terrorism designed to oppress Negros. These violent acts left Negros paralyzed in fear with hopes of preserving the white man as the dominant and superior ethnic group. Lynching kept black people terrorized and allowed white supremacy to flourish. During the reconstruction period, black people had to render the proper respect to white people or suffer severe consequences. ‘‘It was a common custom down in that country…that the Negro people more or less come to the back door when they went to see you, and take off their hat when they meet you on the street, and say, ‘Yesum, Mister…. Yes, Ma’am”. (M. A. Jackson, 1 Dec, 2005, #665) Many victims of lynching were accused of crimes that usually stemmed from false accusations and the belief that all black men fantasized about being with a white woman. This controversy led to countless rape accusations that resulted in the lynching of innocent black men. These accusations were the product of the curiosity of white women about black men and the realization that white men had been rapping black women for years. White men feared that the now free black man would take an interest in white women and white women act on their fantasies about black men. Lynching was a horrible...
Words: 977 - Pages: 4
...Everyone seems to have their own thoughts and beliefs on whether or not a God exists who created and designed the universe and everything in it. Dr. Frank Turek and Christopher Hitchens are no exception in the matter, as they displayed in their debate at Virginia Commonwealth University on September 9, 2008. Dr. Turek, co-author of “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist,” embraces a Christian, or theistic, worldview while Mr. Hitchens, author of “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything,” is very explicitly an atheist. Throughout the debate, Christopher Hitchens used his quick wit and sarcasm to bring forth some strong arguments against Christian beliefs. One of the arguments was that of the presence of various religions-if there are so many different religions, how can they all be correct and true? If I were to ask a Christian, a Muslim, and a Buddhist to tell me about God, they would each have remarkably different stories to share. The Christian would of course tell me all about God, while the Muslim would praise Allah, and the Buddhist would likely speak of the Buddha, and each one would claim that their view was supreme. Another argument that Hitchens offered was that it could not be proven that Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary. When the angel told Mary that she was highly favored in Luke 1:28, she was given grace, which is only imparted upon sinners. If Mary was a sinner, then she could not have birthed Jesus Christ, as he was theoretically pure and free...
Words: 1320 - Pages: 6
...In today’s society being a person of color was deeply impacted by the post-civil war amendments as well as the start of their freedom which started with the Emancipation Proclamation. The Civil War in the 1860s consisted of the North vs the South. The North were against slavery and tried to abolish it. The South better known as the Confederacy resisted the abolishment of slavery because slavery was a huge source of income since plantations required cheap labor which slaves provided. After the war ended, and the south lost there was a rise in what became known as the Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan is a group of white people that lynched and killed colored people. They believe that whites are the superior race and that black people are an abomination...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...Just after the mid 1800’s the newly unified United States was still going through the reconstruction of their nation after the civil war. While the country was coming together, questions were being raised about the revolutionary changes regarding social and constitutional ideas. A better understanding of whether there were any revolutionary changes as a result of the civil war can be gained by looking at the decisions made regarding state's power or federal power, black rights, and the untold racism at the time as a result of blacks gaining rights. On a political level a revolution occurred but because of the radical rise of racism after the civil war and even the amount of racism today, socially there is still a long way to go with the battle against racism. During and after the civil war the federal government realized it had to make a change and rule over the state governments. At the end of the secession from the north the government realized that they can not standby and watch the south become its own sovereign country...
Words: 869 - Pages: 4
...tension began to rapidly cultivate due to a multitude of reasons including the rapid change in the racial demographic of the northern economy, which up until that point had been principally white. African Americans who had fought in World War I had additionally began to express their want for civil rights due to their contributions in Europe in the war. The previous actions caused the eruption of violence from white mobs in several areas. One of the first cities to see the eruption of violence was Tulsa, Oklahoma which had contained the wealthiest African American business community in the Southwest. The violence commenced after a 19-year-old African American man was accused of assaulting a white female elevator operator which would give rise to a substantial amount of violence in which the number of killed and injured is not completely known with an approximate by the state of Oklahoma stating that 26 African Americans killed, 10 Caucasian killed, and 317 injured. Following the events in Tulsa on New Year’s Day 1923 the small African American settlement in Rosewood, Florida was attacked by a white mob believed to be from Georgia. The death toll from the incident has varying accounts with some newspapers reporting seven deaths and others 21.Hence, the early 1920s began the years of intense violence between Caucasians and African Americans over civil rights. The 1920s showed the scale of immigration to the U.S. and brought up concerns about the influx of foreigners. From the...
Words: 2297 - Pages: 10
...After the American Civil War in 1865, the South and the country had to be rebuilt. Reconstruction is the period of time when the government helped rebuild the South after the American Civil War. However, Reconstruction was a complete failure because it lead to the Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in the South, and the Southern rural economy got worse. African American rights were suppressed and denied after Reconstruction. The Ku Klux Klan developed during Reconstruction; they murdered African Americans to prevent them from voting. After Reconstruction ended, the terrorist group assisted white Democrats in their rise to power by threatening African Americans so they would not vote. Also, African American rights were trampled and suppressed with poll taxes, literacy tests, and the grandfather clause. Poll taxes forced a voter to pay a tax in order to vote while literacy...
Words: 583 - Pages: 3
