Preview

How Ku Klux Klan Changed Society

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1936 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Ku Klux Klan Changed Society
Imagine living in a world where there was a group of people who burned down churches and homes, murdered innocent civilians, and even had control over politics. Well, this is what it was like living during the era of the Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan formed and changed the society that we live in today. There is much more to the Ku Klux Klan than just their white hoods and cloaks such as how they formed, what they did and why, and parts of them that still exist today.
To begin with, the Ku Klux Klan originated in many different aspects. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Pulaski, TN, in 1866 (“Ku Klux Klan”). It formed during the reconstruction-era, which was after the Civil War (“Ku Klux Klan and”). It was also the time of Ulysses S. Grant’s election to presidency, who later won the
…show more content…
The Klan first originated from a group of Confederate veterans in 1866 (Moore). The KKK leaders were called “grand wizards” (“Rise of the”). The first grand wizard of the Klan was Nathan Bedford Forrest (“Rise if the”). He was a Confederate general during the Civil War (“Ku Klux Klan and”). His terrifying Klan activities may have even started before the KKK was formed. During the final part of the Civil War, he led a massacre on hundreds of black soldiers (“Ku Klux Klan”). The lower leaders of the Klan were called “grand dragons”, “grand titans”, or “grand cyclopes” (History.com Staff). Similarly, many of the other leaders were also Confederate generals or colonels (“Ku Klux Klan and”). Later on it was more than former Confederates who were joining the Klan. Almost all white members of society were recruited and joined into the KKK (“Rise of the”). These new members did not all share common interest about everything (“Ku Klux Klan and”). The one common belief that they all did share was either white or democratic supremacy (Moore). Later on the Klan spread out and took control of more of the south (“About the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    They did not become the Ku Klux Klan until 1920. In 1934 Hitler told all the German Nazis to come back to Germany. So that maybe more people would join them in their fight, if the American chapter was ran by all Americans. They were right,…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although the kkk was formed in south after the civil war to terrorise African Americans, it was truly reborn in 1915 as an organisation to promote white supremacy. They gained considerable support in the Midwest as well as in the south. This was done by using modern business and salesman techniques coupled with more brutal methods, this allowed for the kkk to attract 100,000 followers by 1921 and up to 5,000,000 by 1923. This shows that the kkk did indeed have sizeable support during the 1920s in america.…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ultimately, the Klan was a reaction by southern whites against the rise of freedom for African Americans and their entrance into politics (2). Despite how the Klan is viewed now, it was originally meant to just be a social club (2). A place where likeminded people could come together and voice their concerns and opinions (4). They believed a sense of mystery would add amusement to the club (2). This can be represented by how outlandish the Klan made their structure sound by having ranks such as Grand Dragon and Grand Wizard (7).…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many black people suffered from poverty,discrimination, outcast, and even violence. Unfortunately Due to these laws and restrictions many people died because of these laws. The Klu Klux Klan was a social club that was made in 1865-66 in Pulaski, Tennessee. This club was created by six Confederate veterans. When it was first made the “KKK” was just a secret club at first.…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kkk Why Essay

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The KKK was originated in Pulaski Tennessee in 1866 by four former confederate officers. The club was founded first as a social club or a fraternity for people who loved their country and did not want to see it go down in flames. Their mission was to bring the white race to back the top and not be submerged by the other races and also stop all those who are associated with the Republican Party which at this time helped…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The ku klux klan started in 1866 in Pulaski Tennessee as political party to go against the Republican party. The underground was for intimidation directed at white and black republican leaders. The clan was started by confederate leader Nathan bedford forest. At its peak in 1920s the klan exceeded 4 million followers. Even doctors, lawyers and ministers were part of the klan during the 1920s. In the 1920s moved to many states to dominate local and state politics. In ohio alone the klan ranks surged to 300,000. In some states like colorado and indiana the klan took over the whole the state government. Including bombings of black schools and churches.…

    • 110 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In 1865, a native-born American racist terrorist organization that became known as the Ku Klux Klan was founded by William Nathan Bedford a former confederate general. The Ku Klux Klan is one of the oldest and most feared groups in America. The KKK is a group that has used violence and actions above the law to support their cause. It was after the Civil War when the clan grew out from the South, with the purpose to “protect and preserve the white races and the termination of blacks, Catholics, and Jews”. They were motivated by the dream of a world with only one race. Ever since 1866 in the year 1870 the Ku Klux Kan extended into almost every southern state and was said that helped overthrow republican reconstruction era policies in the south (Remini 219). Then once again the KKK revived in the 1920’s after a period of declined. The KKK movement revived and became a “Nationwide political power”.…

    • 1593 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Ku Klux Klan

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The ku Klux klan is a homophobic, racist and anti-Communist who despises to blacks, Jews, Catholics, Communists, homosexuals and they mutiny against anyone who thinks different from them; It is the oldest organization in the United States and its ideology more than the rights of white men. This organization infiltrating their same brotherhood people in Government, the Senate and the counties in order to uphold its arguments and go scot-free from their crimes and misdeeds.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    People thought that it was dangerous and wrong for them to be educated. That they would possibly take jobs and offices that were previously held by whites. That was when the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was formed in Tennessee in 1866 during reconstruction. In 1868 the KKK was in nearly every Southern state and many Northern states.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hooded Americanism

    • 1674 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Hooded Americanism: The First Century of the Ku Klux Klan: 1865 to the Present by David Chalmers records the history of the Ku Klux Klan quite bluntly, all the way from its creation following the civil war, to the early 1960’s. The author starts the book quite strongly by discussing in detail many acts of violence and displays of hatred throughout the United States. He makes a point to show that the Klan rode robustly throughout all of the country, not just in the southern states. The first several chapters of the book focus on the Klan’s creation in 1865. He goes on to discuss the attitude of many Americans following the United State’s Civil War and how the war shaped a new nation. The bulk of the book is used to go through many of the states, and express the Klan’s political influence on both the local and state governments. The author starts with Texas and Oklahoma, and goes through the history of the Klan geographically, finishing with New Jersey and Washington. The author stresses that the KKK did not just commit acts of violence towards minorities, but also carried political power. He continues to discuss the impact of the Klan on Civil Rights movements in the 1960’s, and various other important political controversies between the 1920’s and 1970’s. Towards the middle of the book, David M. Chalmers focuses on portraying the feelings of governments and state legislatures, as well as normal citizens towards the Klan. To do this more effectively, the author uses excerpts and quotes from editorials and newspapers, along with several dozen pictures. The conclusion of the book was used mainly as an overview of all of the major incidents and deaths involving the Klan, and how their persistence has allowed them to still exist today despite a lack of resources and support.…

    • 1674 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ku Klux Klan In The 1920's

    • 1896 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In the 1920's the Ku Klux Klan emerged during the aftermath of the U.S. being involved in World War I. It was founded by William J. Simmons, a Methodist circuit preacher who had fifteen followers. The movie The Birth of Nation was Simmons inspiration and recruiting tool for the Klan. From 1915 to 1920 Simmons was able to earn a living by attracting several thousand members to the Klan who agreed to pay membership fees. In the beginning, the Klan had only 4,000 to 5,000 members throughout Georgia and Alabama, however when Simmons signed a marketing contract with Edward Clarke and Elizabeth Tyler, 85,000 men joined the Klan within a year. The Klan of the 1920's was founded on traditional ideals and ignorance. Members viewed themselves as guardians…

    • 1896 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The KKK was founded in December 24 of 1865 and extended into every southern state by 1870. Six ex-confederate veterans founded the first branch of the KKK as a social club in Tennessee. Nathan Bedford Forrest was chosen as the first leader. After being declined many many times by congress and state legislature, the Klan was revived and they started burning crosses, staging rallies,parades and marches denouncing immigrants.…

    • 161 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The name Ku Klux Klan was derived from the Greek word kyklos meaning circle and the Scottish-Gaelic word clan" ("KU KLUX KLAN"). The beginning of a soon to be controversial group was created in 1865 by a group of former Confederate soldiers who organized a social club and spent…

    • 1893 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Ku Klux Klan

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first Ku Klux Klan was an organization that thrived in the South during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. The first branch of the Ku Klux Klan was established in Pulaski, Tennessee, in May, 1866. (www.encyclopedia.com) One year later an organization of local members were established in Nashville in April, 1867. During the next two years Klansmen wearing masks, white cardboard hats and draped in white sheets, tortured and killed black Americans and sympathetic whites. Although the Klan was often able to achieve its aims by terror alone, whippings and lynchings were also used, not only against blacks but also against the so-called carpetbaggers and scalawags. (www.encyclopedia.com)…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866 by former confederate soldiers in response to reconstruction policies following the civil war. The Klan sought to abolish equality and restore white supremacy by intimidating African Americans into subservience, through the use of extrajudicial methods. Members worked in the dead of night, raiding homes and kidnapping civilians. They adopted the semblance of a ghost, donning white robes and conical masks in order elicit fear and avoid recognition. The Klan staged political riots and mass murders aimed at curbing education and voting rights, in order to reestablish control. Two years after it’s creation, Klan activity ceased, as Southern states began to pass anti-Klan legislations and the federal grand jury deemed the Ku Klux Klan to be a “terrorist organisation”.…

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics