The Ku Klux Klan During The Reconstruction Era

The Ku Klux Klan began in 1866 in the town of Pulaski, Tennessee. This secret society was created during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. There were six Civil War Veterans that created the group: Frank O. McCord, J. Calvin Jones, John B. Kennedy, John C. Lester, James R. Crowe, and Richard R. Reed. It was named the Ku Klux Klan from the Greek word “kyklos” which means “Ku Klux”. The word “clan” was altered to begin with a K, most likely for alliteration purposes. This Klan was first formed in the south to reverse the improvements african americans had received as a result of reconstruction.
Originally, the Ku Klux Klan was a secret cult, mostly in the south, which aimed to destroy the newly acquired rights of black people. Because

In regions where most of the violent activity took place, local law enforcement officials were either a part of the Klan or refused to act against it. Those who did act against it and arrest the Klansmen who had been accused of violent actions found it quite difficult to find witnesses willing to testify against them. With no control, the Klan grew even more. However, after 1870, Republican governments in the South finally turned to Congress for help, resulting in the passage of an enforcement act. It was called the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. For the first time, the Ku Klux Klan Act designated certain crimes committed by the Ku Klux Klan as federal offenses. This act destroyed most of the Klan activity in the south. For years the terrorization against blacks settled, but in 1915, a revival of the Ku Klux Klan was organized near Atlanta, Georgia. This was the second generation of the Ku Klux Klan. The second generation was not only alti-black, but was also highly against Roman Catholics, Jews, foreigners, and organized labor. By the 1920s, at its peak, the Klan membership exceeded four million

The national leaders of the Klan wore colorful satin robes with a circular red patch containing a cross with a drop of blood at its center. The rest of the marchers wore their white robes with pointed heads, but their faces were not covered, they were clear to see. The Klansmen showed their faces during this time because the officials only agreed to the march if they showed their faces. Though the Klansmen were not too worried about showing their identities anyways, since there were millions of members in the United States. Marching down the street, they created formations the letter K or crosses. Some carried american flags and banners with the names of their home states. The parade lasted over three hours down Pennsylvania