Ku klux klan webquest with key this 6 page document contains a webquest and teachers key related to the history of the ku klux klan. Wilson, that purported to be an account, from inside information, of the great secret order of reconstruction days, known to the public as ku klux klan. Ku klux klan a history of racism and violence compiled by the staff of the klanwatch project of the southern poverty law center sixth edition the southern poverty law center, montgomery, alabama. The film romanticized the actions of the klan during the reconstruction period in the south. Nebraska history posts materials online for your personal use. Although black americans have typically been the klans primary target, it also has attacked jews, immigrants, members of the lgbtq community and, until recently, catholics.
If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us. Historical perspectives on organised crime and terrorism. The ku klux klan, with its long history of violence, is the most infamous and oldest of american hate groups. The ku klux klan, commonly called the kkk or simply the klan, is the name of three distinct movements in the united states that have advocated extremist reactionary positions such as white supremacy, white nationalism, antiimmigration andespecially in later iterationsnordicism, anticatholicism and antisemitism.
Your students will learn about the early history of the ku klux klan in the united states. List of books and articles about ku klux klan online. Ku klux klan history founded on december 24, 1865, the kkk is a protestant white supremacist organization in the united states. Ku klux klan a history of racism and violence sixth edition, 2011. It had mixed results but was seen as enough of a threat to inspire the force acts of 1870 and 1871. On this date, the house approved an act to enforce the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the united states, and for other purposes, also known as the ku klux klan act. A study in reconstruction politics and propaganda, nchr 39 july 1962. Founded in 1865, the ku klux klan kkk extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the republican partys reconstructionera policies. When was the ku klux klan formed and when was the kkk at. The ku klux klan was founded in 1865 by six defeated confederacy veterans during the reconstruction period following the american civil war. Simmons revived the ku klux klan in georgia after the silent film, the birth of a nation, became a hit in 1915.
Administrative information publication information rare books and manuscripts conditions. Stephenson, again drew national attention after the discovery of klan records dating back to the 1920s. Ku klux klan kkk is the name given not so much to a specific organization as to a tradition of southern vigilantism that dates back to the time of african american slavery in the early to midnineteenth century, when slave patrols were used to guard against escape, uprising, and other sorts of misbehavior by slaves. They were primarily focused on white supremacy and were most prevalent in the southern u. This is trivial information that should not be in the opening sentence of the lead.
As a security threat group, the crimes committed by members of the kkk were mostly political, but this may be changing. These criminal codes were designed to protect africanamericans right to vote, to hold office, to serve on. The ku klux klan, first of two organizations using that name, was founded in pulaski, tennessee in 185556. Guide to the ku klux klan collection the history center in tompkins county 401 east state st. The ku klux klan conspiracy and southern reconstruction 1971. Ku klux klan, kkk, reconstruction, racism, civil rights, threats, blacks, african americans transcript threatening letter from the ku klux klan to a black officeholder during reconstruction notice to jeems, davie, you, must, be, a good boy. Ku klux klan 1915 publisher new york, oxford university press collection. The ku klux klan, with its long history of violence, is the oldest and most infamous of american hate groups. Swift photograph collection, archives and special collections, bracken library, ball state university. The oregon ku klux klan 2 many people immediately associate violence with the ku klux klan. The name combines the greek word for circle kyklos with the gaelic word clan. The invisible empire, a cbs reports documentary from 1965 that traces the history of the ku klux klan including.
However, its demeanor changed to opposing republican governments that had been imposed on the south during reconstruction. From 1867 onward, africanamerican participation in public life in the south became one of the most radical aspects of reconstruction, as blacks won election. The ku klux klan is a white supremacy, nativist, antisemitic, anticatholic organization that operates primarily in the united states. One issue that plagues studies of rightwing extremists is the desire of informants. Jul 20, 2018 after a year of widespread racial violence in america and claimed member increases, dan vernon gains rare access of seven months with the most notorious supremacist group in america, the ku klux klan. Please remember that the contents of nebraska history are ed by the nebraska state historical society except for materials credited to other institutions. In the interests of jews, catholics, negroes and all respecters of the american principle of civil and religious freedom anonymously published in or near buffalo, ny. Beginning in 1921 the ku klux klan made a major effort to recruit members in nebraska.
For americans, the civil war and the years surrounding that epic conflict between the stages remain the most poignant, dramatic and destructive period of the republics history. In fact, the kkk is no longer a single, cohesive organization, having splintered into at least. The united northern and southern knights of the ku klux klan is a patriotic, fraternal, law abiding organization. Printed bv the authoritv of the state of illinois twentyfive hundred copies if you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at ncjrs. Terre haute ku klux klan materials indiana historical society. The ku klux klan and the american political tradition when they drove malcolm xs family out of omaha and evicted all the japanese americans from a town in washington state. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. After a year of widespread racial violence in america and claimed member increases, dan vernon gains rare access of seven months with the most. Today, the kkk is no longer a single, cohesive organization, but has instead splintered into at least four main offshoots and dozens of smaller factions.
Twentyone years ago there was privately printed in nashville, tennessee, a little book by j. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Aug 26, 2007 permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1. Contents contents container ku klux klan charter for laporte, indiana, 1925 om 0352, folder 1, stored in flat files. Inside the ku klux klan meeting the imperial wizard kkk.
Inside the ku klux klan meeting the imperial wizard. The ku klux klan was and is undeniably a terrorist organizationbut what made the klan an especially insidious terrorist organization, and a threat to civil liberties, was that it functioned as the unofficial paramilitary arm of southern segregationist governments. Home students student resources teaching american history 20th century ku klux klan. The birth of the klan during reconstruction on jstor. In the rare prosecution, the vigilantes were almost always acquitted. The ku klux klan of the 1920s historians for peace. Arrangement there is only one item in this collection. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1. It will suffice to compare the klan s form of government to the government of an army. Klan did manage to gain a strong and loyal following in oregon in the 1920s, its inability to maintain its central leadership, a constant struggle with. We educate them on how and when to take action in a non violent way. As the united states army is duly organized with its various officers and troops, so is the knights of the ku klux klan welded together as an organized force for the fulfillment of its patriotic mission. Following the civil war, the ku klux klan emerges to suppress and victimize newly freed slaves.
This is an artificial collection assembled by staff at the. The ku klux klan of the 1920s by linda gordon, author of the second coming of the kkk. Founded in the aftermath of the civil war as a whimsical social club, the klan quickly transformed into a terrorist organization aimed at subjugating newly freed blacks and driving out. However, the klans power and standing has declined dramatically in the decades since its peak years of millionsstrong membership. The kkk ku klux klan is the oldest and most notorious hate group in the united states. The lead sentence of an article is supposed to contain pertinent information about the article itself.
Schuyler, the ku klux klan in nebraska, 19201930, in the fall 1985 issue of nebraska history. The creation of the klan originally is a direct consequence of the defeat of the southern confederate troops against the northern unionists at the end of the civil war. Vigilantism, lynching, and the repression of the iww michael cohen, university of california, berkeley it is almost always the case that a spontaneous movement of the subaltern classes is accompanied by a reactionary movement of the rightwing of the dominant class, for concomitant reasons. The second wave of the ku klux klan rapidly gained popularity in indiana during the 1920s.
The ku klux klan in monmouth county during the 1920s. If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at ncjrs. He has authored or coauthored 29 nonfiction books, including civil liberties. The invisible empire knights of the ku klux klan is the most remarkable movement of modern. The goal of the united northern and southern knights of the ku klux klan is to unite white christians through the bond of brotherhood and make them aware of the problems facing our countries. Ku klux klan 1915 new york state buffalo history expose of traitors. The ku klux klan took the path of organized violence and brutal campaigns against the reconstruction policies directed towards the development of the african american. The first ku klux klan was an organization that thrived in the south during the reconstruction period following the civil war. The ku klux klan kkk or the klan, dedicated to white supremacy, is americas bestknown hate group. Its history and methods of instilling fear works cited ku klux klan. And while there is certainly a legitimate reason for these. Alex crosss trial by james patterson, stella by starlight by sharon m. By the end of the 1920s the group had become known for racism and bigotry, and from then on its influence faded rapidly.
The most prominent of these that gained members in several states was the knights of the white camellia which was formed in louisiana about the same time the. In the summer of 1995 noblesville, indiana, site of the sensational 1925 homicide trial of ku klux klan leader d. They envision men lynched and hanged from trees, homes and churches bombed, and giant crosses burned in the front yards of unwanted people. Notice that the introduction to the ku klux klan article contains information that the kkk is frequently misspelled as klu klux klan instead of ku klux klan. It is also known that the klan was claiming as many as 45,000 members two years later. Ku klux klan a report to the illinois general assembly t. Ku klux klan teacher resources richmond community schools. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled gnu free documentation license. The nshs retains its s even to materials it posts on the web.
The klan was unable to stem the growth of a new racial tolerance in the south in the years that followed. Ku klux klan the reader wiki, reader view of wikipedia. The first klan was born out of the civil war by former confederate soldiers. As 1867 rolled in, there was an increase in black representation in congress and governmental institutions across most southern states. Ku klux klan, kkk, reconstruction, racism, civil rights, threats, blacks, african americans transcript threatening letter from the kuklux klan to a black officeholder during reconstruction notice to jeems, davie, you, must, be, a good boy. Chapter 2 focuses on the general structure and goals of the various klan organizations currently active in the coun try. If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact. In march, don roberts, a local building contractor. You cant burn history getting right with the klan in. The ku klux klan is referred to in this chapter by.
In march, don roberts, a local building contractor, chanced upon a trunk in the barn of a property. Will the combination of these two factors again, make way for a resurgence. Elwood, indiana, ku klux klan collection s1550 page 4 scope and contents the single item in the collection is an unused gold paper seal for the women of the ku klux klan of elwood, indiana. Was it the combination of political and racial factors that have reappeared in todays america. Threatening letter from the kuklux klan to a black office.
One of its manifestations was the invisible empire of the ku klux klan. Writing for history extra, linda gordon explores the roots of the organisation, its explosion into a mass movement in the 1920s, and considers the political sway that the klan held in early 20thcentury america. Timeline history of the ku klux klan kkk thoughtco. A brief history of the ku klux klan in december 1865, six exconfederates from pulaski, tennessee near the alabama border organized a social club in which the six, dressed in white sheets, rode around on. The ku klux klan was and is undeniably a terrorist organizationbut what made the klan an especially insidious terrorist organization, and a threat to. Although black americans have typically been the klans primary target, it also has attacked jews, immigrants, gays and lesbians and, until recently, catholics. The ku klux klan kkk is the most prominent hatebased organization in american history. Prior to completing this activity, students should have an understanding of the history of slavery, the policies and consequences of reconstruction, and southern. The klan manual, 1925 roy rosenzweig center for history and. The invisible empire, a cbs reports documentary from 1965 that traces the history of the ku klux klan including its 1915 resurgence inspired by the. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. The second was a nationwide organization that flourished after world war i. The ku klux klan, which originated in the american south after the civil war, began as a secret society dedicated to maintaining white supremacy.
At its height the klan claimed 45,000 members in the state. Ff 11h microfilm of the collection f 1703 fourth item on. The klan has existed in three distinct eras at different points in time during the history of the united states. Mankind that the knights of the ku klux klan, incorporated, is the original ku klux klan organized in the year 1866, and active during the reconstruction period of american history. Mocking the klan it is well known that the first nebraska klavern of the ku klux klan was formed in omaha in 1921.
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