The Ku Klux Klan During The Reconstruction Era

The Ku Klux Klan, formed in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1866, is an anti-African American group that terrorizes African Americans in the South even to this day. The Ku Klux Klan, otherwise known as the KKK, was founded at an instrumental time in American history- it was founded during the Reconstruction Era, following the Civil War. This was a time of tension between white Americans and black Americans; many whites in the South were upset that black slaves had been emancipated as a direct result of the Civil War, in which the southern Confederate States lost. This created the perfect environment for southern whites to band together for the common goal of white supremacy, thus creating the KKK. “At the Klan’s peak in the 1920’s there were more than

The group spread rapidly due to the desire to maintain white supremacy. By 1867, there were branches who had organized meetings and assemblies called “The Invisible Empire of the South.” It was at this time that Nathan Belford Forrest, a Confederate General in the Civil War, became the first official leader, otherwise known as the “grand wizard.’’ The Klan’s presence expanded to most southern states by the year 1870. The article, Ku Klux Klan written for History.com, quoted that the KKK, “...became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party’s Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing equality for economic equality for blacks.” The time period after the Civil War called the Reconstruction Era had new policies put in place to help protect the rights of the newly liberated African-Americans. Upset about losing the war and their free workforce, many white southerners did not agree with these Reconstruction policies. These policies created more of a military presence in the South, which was intended to help enforce equal protection under the 14th Amendment. This only angered the white community, thus giving them a motive to join organizations such as the KKK where they would be able to collaborate with people who had the same views as them. The Klan’s popularity steadily increased, and by the 1920’s, there were over 4 million members. Since

This all come about from Klan members’ opposition to the 14th Amendment, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States... are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens...nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” This Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America simply states that everyone is equal under the law, regardless of race. Therefore, more African-Americans felt safe in their Southern communities. The KKK, however, didn’t like this, and they tried to reverse these policies in order to maintain white supremacy. The attacks that they organized were not publicly organized in the fear of being caught, but were instead the work of Klan vigilantism. The article, Ku Klux Klan (KKK)- Profile of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), written by Dr. Amy Zalman for terrorism.about.com, gives details about the gruesome methods of installing fear and terror. “They used a variety of tactics to harass and intimidate blacks and sympathetic whites including putting burning crosses on the lawns of individuals, arson, riding in groups by horseback near communities they wanted to frighten, and beating, rape and lynching…” Their signature white robes and