Ku Klux Klan Research Paper

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The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866 and expanded to almost every southern state by 1870. The Klan was founded as a social club by a group in Pulaski, Tennessee that mainly consisted of confederate veterans. The first two words of its name are based off the Greek word ‘’Kyklos’’ meaning circle. (history.com staff 2009, Ku Klux Klan, URL: history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan) The KKK was formed to fight against the Republican Party. The 14th Amendment protected ‘’equal rights’’ for blacks and former slaves, however the KKK and most white people at the time wanted to keep white supremacy in the south. From 1867 onward they made public life for blacks a nightmare. The Ku Klux Klan dedicated itself to violence against the Republican Party and its voters in an effort to rebel against the reconstruction policies. Much like the magnetic reversal of Earth’s poles, with Democratic and Republican …show more content…

Every white person in the South during the 60s grew up around racism so it would make sense that most people didn’t like blacks. A lot of them just weren’t devoted enough to join an organized group dedicated to hatred. There were far more individual racists than actual klansman. (history.com staff 2009, Ku Klux Klan, URL: history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan).
The Ku Klux Klan did have a big impact on the Civil Rights Movement, it’s violence intimidated people and really disturbed others. But the fear of the KKK kept a lot of black people from voting, and scared civil rights activists. I believe that the fear of the KKK is part of the reason that establishments stayed segregated for so long. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson announced that 4 Klansmen were arrested in connection with the murder of a white female civil rights activist, and publicly condemned the KKK. (history.com staff 2009, Ku Klux Klan, URL: