The Role of the Ku Klux Klan in U.S. Society

The Role of the Ku Klux Klan in U.S. Society

Originally, the Ku Klux Klan was founded immediately after the Civil

war and lasted until the 1870’s, after which it collapsed. The Klan

was then reformed in 1915 and is still conducting till the present

day. The Activists had set up for many different reasons, the foremost

ones being, to create a business or rather as a ‘social club’, invite

members who were anti-Civil war and of course to restore white

supremacy after their defeat in the Civil war. The Ku Klux Klan had

become immense in its time, but how immense was this immensity?

The Klan’s first branch in the 19th century was initially organised as

a social club by Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee. Their

main objective was to prevent African Americans from voting, through

intimidation and violence. During the next two years Klansmen wearing

masks, white cardboard hats and draped in white sheets, designed to

frighten superstitious blacks and to prevent identification by the

occupying federal troops- whipped, tortured and killed African

Americans and sympathetic whites in night time raids. Successful black

businessmen were attacked and any attempt to form black protection

groups such as trade unions was quickly dealt with by the Ku Klux

Klan. The Klan reached its peak between 1868 and 1870. A ‘potent

force’, it was largely responsible for the restoration of white rule

in the Deep south or otherwise had come to know as the “Invisible

Empire of the South” after the Civil war.

The organisation had become so large a ‘Grand Wizard’ was chosen to

take control of its establishment, which was followed by a descending

hierarch...

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...y and its people? Yes. It caused many riots, outrages and

murders, but still is remembered as one of the popular “social club”

of it’s time. The role and importance of the KKK was significant in

respect that it did bring about a lot of civil rights and changes

which benefited the African Americans. As time passed on, many former

members redeemed themselves for being involved in such an

organisation, and this proved just how potent the force of the Ku Klux

Klan was that it had quite the opposite effect to its objectives. As

stated, the group still exists today, but in much smaller numbers, and

with much more resistance against it. I believe the KKK has been

defeated and has made it’s mark, but some say it still has unfinished

business to attend to, maybe once again, the ‘empire’ will prevail…….!

(Let’s hope not!)