ku klux klan the history of
It has been heard and talked about throughout history, that there was never such a thing as "The" Ku Klux Klan. There is traceable evidence of different movements and organizations that have used this name. The history of the K.K.K. corresponds with the history of race relations from our country. The Klan can be divided into five different eras: The Reconstruction, The End of the War (& Pulaski Six), The Klan Mobilization, The Reign of Terror, and The End of the First Era. Each stage was brought out by economic and social changes. Each stage also is at the same point in time as an escalation in racial standings.As it was started in 1865, the Ku Klux Klan has sent a sense of terror through people's minds. A group of six white Southerners was the start of this organization. The history of violence of the K.K.K. is a result of the hatred and anger from the end of the Civil War. The reason for this hatred was because blacks had won their struggle for freedom of slavery. They fought to deny the civil rights for African Americans. They wanted the blacks to be forced into slavery once again. The K.K.K. tore apart reconstructing governments and established a reign of terror and violence throughout the whole war-torn South. The first era
To some whites the freedom of slaves meant that their social and economic ways of life had been defeated. For some white Southerners, this was a nightmare that came true. The number of slaves living around the whites were seen as threats. Night patrols were a result of bloody slave revolts. These patrols consisted of white men that were empowered and authorized by law to look enforce a curfew for slaves, look for runaways and guard rural areas. This was done to prevent any black rebellions. These patrollers were given the right to whip any violators they caught. People saw the K.K.K. as an opportunity to win what they lost in the battles. Confederate veterans were giving up their rebel grays for hoods and sheets. The Klan's history of violence and manipulation led to racist appeals that divided people as a whole. Most of the K.K.K. 's targets were towards union and political leaders, or the people who tried to bring everyone together. They were an extremely powerful and intimidating group who terrorized the U.S.. At first the Klan was known for being mischievous and starting trouble. One of the most common plots was for a Klansman to where his costume and ride up to a black's home in the middle of the night. He would demand water and claim that he had not had anything to drink since the battle in Shiloh. This made the blacks believe that these men were Confederate ghosts, riding through the towns. The Klansman would not be drinking the water. Instead, he would be pouring it down a tube that led to a bottle underneath his coat. There was no real reason to do this, except for the fact that they were wasting the water supply that the blacks had saved. This mischief eventually turned into violence. Blacks began were reminded of the pre-war slave patrols because of the sight of the armed white men walking around the towns at night. The suspicion and fears of the
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Approximate Word count = 1264
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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