part in American history, although other less important groups have also used the

name. The first Ku Klux Klan was an organisation that thrived in the South during the

Reconstruction period following the Civil War. The second was a nation-wide

organisation that flourished after World War I. Subsequent groups calling themselves

the Ku Klux Klan sprang up in much of the South after World War II and in response

to civil-rights activity during the 1960s.

The Ku Klux Klan was formed as a social club by a group of Confederate

Army veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee around 1865. The Ku Klux Klan was not started

because of racial animosity nor did they have any political motivation, they just

dressed in their white sheets and pillow covers and played pranks during the night.

The group adopted the name Ku Klux Klan from the Greek word kuklos, meaning

circle, and the English word clan. In 1867, the Ku Klux Klan began to focus on

racism. It was at this time that a Confederate General, Nathan Bedford Forest, took

charge and was named the first Imperial Wizard. Under the leadership of Fore

leaders were killed, in Birmingham, Alabama a church was bombed, killing four

In 1915, William J. Simmons, a Alabama native, was a minister of the

The Klan has been known for some of the most brutal lynchings in the history

Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a practising physician, organised a new

organised two other white supremacy groups in 1915. These two groups were called

smaller groups. During the 1960's, the Civil Rights movement began and a new wave

probe the Ku Klux Klan and sent some Klan members to prison. Following this, Klan

Klan began terrorising the South, with their prime target being African Americans and

up. These men kept blacks from the election polls and protested black universities.

cross to the Klan during his first meeting as Imperial Wizard on Thanksgiving day of

Some common words found in the essay are:
Klux Klan, Americans White, African Americans, Ku Klux, ku klux, ku klux klan, klux klan, War Reconstruction, Jesus Christ, Invisible Empire, Roman Catholics, Klan Greek, Samuel Green, african americans, civil rights, klan violence, burning cross, name ku klux, bill passed, name ku, world war, imperial wizard,
Approximate Word count = 785
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)