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Ku Klux Klan Research Paper

1751 Words8 Pages

Since the Ku Klux Klan’s beginning, it has thrived off the racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and anti-semitic qualities of americans, all in the fight for white supremacy. In the Klan’s beginning, it was a group against the reconstruction of Black lives after slavery, but after that, they began to those who were against the KKK or different from the KKK in anyway. KKK members were and still are willing to do anything from lynchings to marches to bombings in the name of their cause. The KKK was and is allowed to infect U.S. government in a large scale, so it has given them an edge unlike many other hate groups in the U.S. Throughout the Ku Klux Klan’s history, they have influenced American life through violence and fear by terrorizing anyone who …show more content…

The KKK was a predominant part of small towns mostly in the south. It was very difficult to prosecute KKK violence because law enforcement was either part of the KKK or didn’t take action against it. This was because the KKK would kill not only Blacks, but also those who stood up for blacks. Even if law enforcement officials were against the KKK, it was very difficult to prosecute against them because not many would be willing to be a witness against the KKK. This allowed the KKK to be confident in their fight for white supremacy. Just five years into the reign of the KKK, Congress tried to curb the Klan’s attacks. Congress passed three Enforcement Acts, later called the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. The Acts stated that certain crimes committed by individuals were federal offences, which then deprived them from being able to hold office, serve on juries, or enjoy equal protection under the law. It also allowed the president to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus, which states that if someone is to be detained by government officials, there has to be a reason. It allowed the president to arrest accused individuals with charges and send federal forces to try and get rid of KKK violence. The act was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. Sadly the Acts didn’t affect Klan activities at all. In another attempt to prevent the spread of the KKK, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia all passed anti-mask laws. Anti-mask laws refer to initiatives the want to stop people from concealing their faces during a crime so they won’t go unidentified. This created issues for the KKK because, during a KKK crime, everyone wore white robes that covered their face. The KKK made large imprints in government thanks to KKK members getting into politics. Presidents like Harry Truman, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and even our president right now,

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