Ku klux klan definition and meaning collins english. The video violence and backlash provides an overview of two different periods of violence during the reconstruction era, and it helps students distinguish between the violence of the ku klux klanwhich was largely and successfully ended by federal law enforcementand the paramilitary violence that erupted later in the 1870s and played a. It will also chart the basic judicial history of s 19853, emphasizing the everincreasing scope of the statute. Jan 30, 2015 these are the sources and citations used to research part a the ku klux klan. The ku klux klan rose to prominence in indiana politics and society after world war i. Catholics, jews, immigrants, and those it deemed immoral. Faced with a constant struggle with modernization, interior problems with its central leadership and allegations of corruption, and a changing social and political. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with history s original voices is exciting for students and liberating for instructors. Stephenson, again drew national attention after the discovery of klan records dating back to the 1920s. Most believe that the klan is a dead organization comprised of rednecks and racist southerners. This is an artificial collection assembled by staff at the.
National humanities center the twenties in contemporary commentary. Notes on writing the history of the ku klux klan, 18661954. In the changing world of the 1920s, the group was against catholics, jews, africanamericans, immorality, and drinking. He has authored or coauthored 29 nonfiction books, including civil liberties. A brief history of the ku klux klan background questions. This is a volume collection of reports and testimonies from a congressional committee that investigated the ku klux klan and other insurrectionary movements in the former confederacy after the close of the civil war. Pennsylvanias klan was led by sam rich, the imperial representative of pennsylvania, who according to john m. A guided inquiry into a dubious, pervasive, allamerican.
The second wave of the ku klux klan rapidly gained popularity in indiana during the 1920s. The ku klux klan and other white supremacist groups dedicated much of their efforts to keeping white democrats in the majority, and getting rid of anyone who they perceived as a threat to that goal, whether they be black or white. The klan has existed in three distinct eras at different points in time during the history of the united states. In september 1925 it published two defining essays on the klan by the klan s national leaders and by a maine anti klan statesman. 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. Toward a new historical appraisal of the ku klux klan in the 1920s 1992, shawn lay told of how it was organized by. Whippings, tarandfeatherings, threats of violence, and for black victims, lynching, became common. Explain that these images evoke the ku klux klans second incarnation from 1915 to the present. Nationally, indiana was said to have the most powerful. From 1867 onward, africanamerican participation in public life in the south became one of the most radical aspects of reconstruction, as blacks won election. Reconstruction violence and the ku klux klan hearings a brief history with documents first edition 2015 new edition available shawn alexander this carefully edited selection of testimony from the ku klux klan hearings reveals what is often left out of the discussion of reconstructionthe central role of violence in shaping its course. The masonic chronicle, the ku klux klan and klan enrollment advertisement, n.
The beginnings of the klan in 1865, after the civil war, some white people in the south decided to form a group to protect themselves and to terrorize black people. This allowed its members to kill with impunity and allowed southern segregationists to eliminate activists by force without. The ku klux klan 2 the forum, a magazine published in new york city, regularly published invited essays on controversial issues of the day. Publications national criminal justice reference service. Apr 30, 2020 organized around the history of women in social movements in the u. Each has advocated extremist reactionary positions such as white nationalism, anti. Here you will find primary source historical documents and images that can be used as handouts in your classroom. The ku klux klan 3 the dallas county citizens league was organized april 4, 1922, by a mass meeting of five thousand citizens held in the municipal auditorium on the street on which it faces. The ku klux klan emerged in pennsylvania in 1922 and saw dramatic growth during the middle of the decade.
The story of the ku klux klan in america and in iowa. It was made up of nativeborn, white protestants of many income and social levels. He also organized klan chapters in california, oregon, and later idaho, alaska, and montana. They apparently derived the name from the greek word kyklos, from which comes the english circle. Ku klux klan a history of racism and violence sixth edition, 2011. How did the perspectives of african americans and southern whites differ on the ku klux klan kkk during reconstruction. Ask students what they already know about the ku klux klan. The 14th amendment, ratified in 1868, defined citizenship and guaranteed due process and equal protection of the law to all. The documents compiled in this collection are suggested for use within the lessons on our reconstruction era website. Men, dressed in white robes and hoods, riding throughout the countryside harassing blacks. A study of intolerance in a border city 1985 and imperial outpost on the border.
The ku klux klan kkk is the most prominent hatebased organization in american history. Historical perspectives on organised crime and terrorism. In this violent atmosphere, the ku klux klan grew in size and strength. Mar 11, 2019 the original ku klux klan had almost entirely ceased to exist by the late 1800s but, in what most historians believe was not a coincidence, nine months after the birth of a nation was released, william joseph simmons 18801945, a parttime preacher living in atlanta, georgia, founded what became known as the second klan. The ku klux klan history bibliographies cite this for me. Search the history of over 439 billion web pages on the internet. That request was to post at the stroke of midnight, new years eve, a new webpage with links to downloads of dozens of never before seen by non members ku klux klan secret documents. The kkks reign was shortlived, its decline hastened by the revulsion of many southerners to its extreme methods and suppression by local governments. The 19thcentury klan was originally organized as a social club by confederate veterans in pulaski, tennessee, in 1866.
This guided inquiry positions students explore the klan s dubious place in american history. You cant burn history getting right with the klan in. Aug 14, 2018 how the birth of a nation revived the ku klux klan. A brief history with documents ebook written by shawn alexander. The first ku klux klan was an organization that thrived in the south during the reconstruction period following the civil war. A native of shreveport, louisiana, powell began organizing for the klan on the west coast in california in 1920. Craig, initiated, or at least approved, all klan activities in the state p. We were directed particularly to determine whether or not the. A brief history with documents bedford series in history and culture first edition by shawn alexander author 4. 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.
This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on friday, january 30, 2015. A new book by a university of kansas professor points to a similar set of events in the nations history concerning a seemingly forgotten investigation of the ku klux klan s violence during the early days of reconstruction. In march, don roberts, a local building contractor, chanced upon a trunk in the barn of a property. The golden era of indiana 19001941 northern indiana center for history i am the law in indiana, the ku klux klan in indiana a majority of people have an already formed image of the klan in their minds. Ku klux klan members parading along pennsylvania ave. The ku klux klan, founded by a confederate general in 1866, became known as the invisible empire of the south in which members represented the ghosts of the confederate dead returning to terrorize african americans and republicans.
The reorganized klan s first leader, or grand wizard, was nathan bedford forrest, who had been a confederate general during the civil war. Ku klux klan two members of the ku klux klan, illustration from harpers weekly, december 19, 1868. Although it was a covert organization, the klan s displays of violence and intolerance were anything but discreet. Some white people who previously had all the power and wealth, resented their losses and feared retaliation by the newly freed blacks. The invisible empire knights of the ku klux klan is the most remarkable movement of modern. Guide to the ku klux klan collection the history center in tompkins county 401 east state st. Major luther ivan powell founded the washington state ku klux klan in 1922. The ku klux klan was formed in georgia in 1915 and became a prominent national organization in the 1920s as an advocate for nativeborn, white, protestant americans. Recently, white nationalism has reemerged, as evidenced in the 2017 charlottesville, virginia events. In the summer of 1995 noblesville, indiana, site of the sensational 1925 homicide trial of ku klux klan leader d.
Part a the ku klux klan history bibliographies cite. List of books and articles about ku klux klan online. Background the ku klux klan in reconstruction north. A ku klux klan threat, 1868 gilder lehrman institute of. Klansmen currently active in illinois, and that these members, as we reported earlier, are divided unevenly among three. The film romanticized the actions of the klan during the reconstruction period in the south. Lcusz62119565 in the summer of 1867, the klan was structured into the invisible empire of the south at a convention in nashville, tennessee, attended by delegates from former confederate states. For example, see the ku klux klan, application form, n. The ku klux klan, as a fraternal membership organization, enjoyed phenomenal success throughout the united states during the early to mid1920s. Report of the joint select committee to inquire into the. In march, don roberts, a local building contractor. 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.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read reconstruction violence and the ku klux klan hearings. Knights of the ku klux klan a secret organization inspired by the former, founded in 1915 and active in the southern and other parts of the u. The washington state klan during the 1920s was part of the second of three waves of kkk activity in america. Ku klux klan material from altoona, pennsylvania, 19241929. Organization and principles of the ku klux klan 1869 log in to see the full document and commentary. Book details lack of prosecution in 1870s klan hearings in. If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us. Simmons revived the ku klux klan in georgia after the silent film, the birth of a nation, became a hit in 1915. For additional primary source material, you can see our complete unit on this history, the reconstruction era and the fragility of democracy.
In 1871 congress passed the klu klux klan act that authorized the use of federal troops in the klans suppression and for the trial of its. Whippings, tarand featherings, threats of violence, and for black victims, lynching, became common. At its height in 1924, the indiana klan had more than 300,000. Includes projects and archives with more than 3,600 documents and 150,000 pages of additional fulltext documents.
The ku klux klan, gaining ground ever since the 1915 release of birth of a nation, a film that served as a major inspiration for the second coming of the ku klux klan, found in oregon a state with a small african american population and a largely homogenous caucasian populace. The ku klux klan act, the third of a series of increasingly stringent enforcement acts, was designed to eliminate extralegal violence and protect the civil and political rights of four million freed slaves. The collection contains correspondence, minutes, reports, membership lists and paraphernalia, financial records, an account ledger, and costume insignia. By 1868, the klan had evolved into a hooded terrorist organization that its members called the invisible empire of the south. The klan was originally organized in pulaski, tennessee in 1868, but eventually expanded their organization all. Documents and publications, 19231924 folder 2 microfilm of the collection f 1703 third item on reel. Reconstruction violence and the ku klux klan hearings.
Although it was a covert organization, the klans displays of violence and intolerance were anything but discreet. Black people, who had been slaves before and during the war, became free after the war. The historical roots of white nationalism in the united states appear in the history of the ku klux klan kkk. Reconstruction violence and the ku klux klan hearings, 1st.
Stauffer december 1997 carol street potter 2 february 2004 manuscript and visual collections department. 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 horseback for amusement. Apr 16, 2020 the name of the ku klux klan was derived from the greek word kyklos, meaning circle, and the scottishgaelic word clan, which was probably chosen for the sake of alliteration. 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. This report on the history of the ku klux klan, americas first terrorist organization, was prepared by the klanwatch project of the southern poverty law center. This report details the history, activities, ideology, and strategies used by the ku klux klan, neonazi groups, the identity church movement, and other hate groups in the united states. Historians have traced three distinct surges in kkk membership and activity. Ku klux klan, wayne county, indiana records, 19161933 bulk 19221927 collection information historical sketch scope and content note series contents cataloging information processed by eric l. Ku klux klan, america in the 1920s, primary sources for teachers. Investigating the kkk lesson teaching american history.
Our flexible, affordable, entirely digital readers help you focus your classroom on primary sources. The ku klux klan was and is undeniably a terrorist organizationbut what made the klan an especially insidious terrorist organization, and a threat to. Klanwatch was formed in 1981 to help curb klan and racist violence through litigation, education and monitoring. Jan 23, 2015 reconstruction violence and the ku klux klan hearings. 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.
Griffiths controversial epic 1915 film about the civil war and reconstruction depicted the ku klux klan as valiant. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the. Its support, measured in the millions, was both geographically widespread and culturally mainstream. By equating white anglosaxon protestantism with true americanism, it fueled intolerance for blacks. As a security threat group, the crimes committed by members of the kkk were mostly political, but this may be changing.
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