In the first few years after the Civil War, not only was the South economically shattered, but it now had a large population of freed slaves to account for. Many Southerners were still opposed to African-Americans having equal rights, and they lasted out in violent ways without punishment. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a group born out of hate and resentment towards African Americans. They were able to conduct a reign of terror over the South with impunity because they had justifications for their actions, making their atrocities seem less gruesome and terrible than it actually was, and many white Southerners still saw African-Americans as inferior which often bled into all aspects of their lives. Started in 1865 and originally a club for ex-Confederate soldiers1, the KKK grew into a massive terrorist organization with the mission “…in urging upon Americans the duty and necessity of preserving America’s precious race heritage2.” They claimed that they were protecting women from being harmed and tainted by men. In reality, they were beating and hanging …show more content…
Jobs of members ranged from farmers to lawyers and doctors4. When working at their jobs, members allowed their personal opinions about African-Americans to be part of their professional life and dictate their actions. This was especially prevalent in 1866 in Memphis, Tennessee, where white policemen actively assisted the mobs with violent acts through the black neighborhoods, which killed 40 people and wounded an additional 70.5 The KKK had a large presence in the South-if they wanted a rope to hang someone they were given it immediately. They were not asked to pay and even if they had been they would not have given any. When the KKK went marched on December 3rd, 1868 they unmasked themselves when asked and none were identified to the police because the police were most likely supporters of the