Hate Group Research Paper

682 Words2 Pages

A hate group is defined as “an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, nation, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other designated sector of society”. A hate group tries to promote malice towards others. Since its founding in 1866, the Ku Klux Klan kidnapped and killed many African Americans, bombed many of their meeting places, and sparked fear into their entire race. On December 24, 1866, the Ku Klux Klan was founded by General Nathan Bedford Forrest in Pulaski Tennessee. Many people, especially in the South, did not like the outcome of the civil war. They decided to take matters into their own hands. Group members would …show more content…

This Era is the most famous, because of the creation of the standard white robes worn by every member. Since the Second Era was rooted mainly in Protestant communities, anti-semitism and anti catholicism caused cross burnings to become much more common. They were also afraid of a communist uprising, due to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia during the beginning of 1917. This Era was at the peak of the Klan, with around 4 million members. The Era ended in 1944, while people were busy getting back on their feet after the Great Depression had been over for almost 5 …show more content…

They were a key factor in preventing African Americans from voting, and even helped to sustain segregation. They terrified activists to the point where anyone was afraid to help African Americans. Many law enforcement officials refused to take action against the Klan in areas where violence was most common, as they were afraid of being victimized. If they did try to accuse a Klan member, it was almost impossible to find anyone to testify against them. Eventually, their terrorism became so common, so brutal, and so publicised, that the government, alongside many citizens, realised it was time to step in. The government had tried to intervene in 1871, when Ulysses S. Grant passed the Ku Klux Act, which imposed heavy penalties on any terrorist organization, though there were not many at the time. It also used military force to try to suppress the Ku Klux Klan. This Act was soon declared unconstitutional, and the Ku Klux Klan was back to terrorizing everyone whom they did not like. The Ku Klux Klan has never been fully eradicated, because they were so prominent, and there was no way to stop them without violating the

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