In the spring of 1866 one of these secret groups was formed in Tennessee by Confederate Civil War veterans Captain John C. Lester, Major James R. Crowe, John D. Kennedy, Calvin Jones, Richard R. Reed, and Frank O. McCord. It was named the Ku Klux Klan (Ku- Extremism…). Founded by six Confederate veterans, the Ku Klux Klan was a Christian organization that attempted to intimidate blacks (Ku-U.S…). It was also based on democratic principles; its original members and all new members would always be sympathetic to the Democratic party (Wade 57). A few trademarks of this society were elaborate rituals that usually included a burning cross and chants, hooded robe-like costumes, secret meeting places and secret passwords (Boyer 514).
In a little less than two years, the Ku Klux Klan had establishments in all of the southern states. During the time between 1866 and 1868, the KKK was an organization that would mostly patrol and police their own and surrounding neighborhoods. They would make threats to blacks that had a desire to vote and live freely. When blacks tried to do these things, the Ku Klux Klan would quickly deal with it. Many times punishment by the KKK involved public humiliation, beatings, violence, or murder. Putting an end to black suffrage was the top priority of the Ku Klux Klan (Ku- U.S…). But with the passing of the Fourteenth Amendment in June of 1866 and the Fifteenth Amendment in February of 1869, both helping to give voting rights to blacks, it was made much harder for the Ku Klux Klan to fight black suffrage. The KKK did all in its power to attempt to destroy this newly formed law. This enforcement was first demonstrated in the election of 1868 when members of the Ku Klux Klan would go out at night and intimidate or threaten or use violence against black voters (Boyer 514). These happenings occurred all over the South which made it obvious that the Ku Klux Klan was not a tiny social club anymore, instead, a terrorist group that made itself known throughout the country.
This terrorist group would hold the true power in the South for many years to come. The Ku Klux Klan brought numerous southern whites of different social classes together to fight for various goals. There was amazing diversity between the members of the Ku Klux Klan. The Cincinnati Gazette claimed:
Were all the Ku-Klux arrested and brought to trial, among them would be found sheriffs, magistrates, jurors and legislators, and it may be clerks and judges. In some counties it would be found that the Ku-Klux and their friends compromise more than half of the influential and voting population (Wade 57).
Many highly respected positions such as doctors, lawyers, and university professors were also found to be members of the KKK (Wade 57). After gaining significant influence in the country the Ku Klux Klan stood for the suppression of black suffrage, the reestablishment of white supremacy, and the destruction of the Reconstruction governments that had begun to appear in various states (Boyer 514).
The members of the KKK relentlessly attacked Union League officials, Freedmen’s Bureau officials, white Republicans, black militia units, economically successful blacks, and black voters (Boyer 514). The Ku Klux Klan would deal with these issues in many ways. Blacks were the targets of most abuse; whites were not nearly affected as much (Ku- U.S…). When the KKK wanted to deal with a black man and his family, a primary threat was usually given, and sometimes a deal would be attempted (Wade 66). These deals usually had terms that would have the black man stop voting or making an honest living or stop doing something that agitated the KKK in return for his life. If they did not accept the terms the Ku Klux Klan would be able to take almost any action that they wanted to. Often times these actions included arson, tar-and-feathering, rape, whipping, lynching, and murder (Ku- U.S…). Arson was used when the Ku Klux Klan wanted someone to move and if the person in question refused, the KKK would burn down their house (Wade 66). This occurred frequently in the South, but not as much as other punishments. Tar-and-feathering was done publicly by the KKK, although it was a less severe consequence for someone to pay than the others were (Ku- U.S…). Rape of black women and white women who supported freedmen was not uncommon, but usually the Ku Klux Klan would give women written threats before any action would be taken against them (Wade 64). Whipping was the punishment that was used most often (Wade 67). Blacks and whites were both subject to this. The Ku Klux Klan would take someone out of his or her home and if the person did not cooperate with the KKK they would be whipped repeatedly.
The Ku Klux Klan would also gather groups of people, lead them to a clearing, and whip the entire group simultaneously. At these larger sessions, the KKK group involved would make sure that all of its members undertook in the activities because it would give them a sense of brotherhood and unity. Lynching and murder were occurring at amazing rates (Wade 67). When someone was going to be killed, there were a number of things that could happen. The Ku Klux Klan could go to someone’s house, bring them right outside their door, and throw a noose around the nearest tree, or they could shoot them on sight. The KKK could also bring these people into the middle of the town and continue with the proceedings for the entire town to see. Other times the Ku Klux Klan kidnapped its wanted victims and brought them to desolate areas to perform these tasks. There is no known number of deaths due to these lynching and murders, but the estimates are enormous. During these times, the Ku Klux Klan was a renegade band of terrorists and torturers.
The Ku Klux Klan was a symbol of monumental evil in America. It was the manifestation of six men’s dying hopes. And it was those dying hopes that would lead the country plummeting into decades upon decades of despair. The Ku Klux Klan had a presence and demeanor that was never again matched in the United States. Their actions can never be forgotten and it is a chapter in history that will always be remembered as one of the biggest mistakes that America has ever let occur.