How Did the Views and the Arguments put forward by Supporters and opponents of the Ku Klux Klan differ?

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Harvey James 10KG                                                                 24th May 2007

How Did the Views and the Arguments put forward by

Supporters and opponents of the Ku Klux Klan differ?

The Ku Klux Klan also known as the KKK was a secret society founded in 1866 in the South of the USA by 6 former Confederate Soldiers. It was purely a social group to begin with, but then changed into a group that tortured and killed black people. The word, ‘Ku’ was from the Greek Word called Kuklos meaning Circle; this is why the Klan stands in a circle at Gatherings and Rituals. The KKK’s Book of Rules is the Kloran. This book contains guidelines and Klonversation for the Klan members (Klansman). Klansman were disguised in white Hoods and Robes. Klonversation was a code language used by the Klan. Many Whites in America disagreed with President Lincoln setting the Black Slaves free. The Reconstruction Act that gave Black Slaves equal rights. Many Whites did not accept the rights and independence given to Black people. The main Confederate Soldier that set up the Klan was Nathan Forrest; he believed Blacks could never be equal to Whites. The Ku Klux Klan died out in 1900 but 15 years later in 1915, the Klan was revived by William Simmons. 5 years after the revival of the Klan, Hiram Evans became Leader (Imperial Wizard). Members of the Klan were known as WASPS White Anglo Saxon Protestants by 1925 the Klan had over 5 million WASPS. The Klan added a number of other Religious and People to their hated list these included: Catholics, Jews, Immigrants and Divorcees. The KKK attracted so many new members because they promised a new America for the White American People.

Black People

The KKK believed that Black People were the most inferior race. The KKK had a strong belief in white supremacy; this is where the white race was the ultimate race and all others were inferior especially black people.
One source in particular outlines how the Klan made new members answer ten questions before they joined the Klan. One of which was, “Do you believe in and will faithfully strive for the eternal maintenance of white supremacy”. This question is asked to secure that all new KKK members believe in white supremacy and will fight for what they believe in. However an opponent of the Klan and their radical ideas would argue that reason why black people were in America was because of white people shipping them over as slaves. Therefore they did not want to come to America in the first place. In addition America was supposed to be considered to be the land of the free as stated in the Declaration of Independence, 1776. A quotation from the Declaration says, “All Men are born equal”. Therefore if the Klan were true Americans they would accept these terms of the Declaration and treat everyone the same, black or white everyone was equal. This in my opinion was showing the Klan to be very hypocritical.  

Members of the KKK had very strict rules when it came to Black people one of which was no inter-marriage. Intermarriage is where people of different race or religion join in marriage. This was frowned upon by all of the KKK; they believed that this would ruin the USA and turn it into a mongrel nation. They feared a mongrel nation as they wanted to attain and be the most purist nation. But the opposition of the Klan would argue that some people can not help their feelings and in the Declaration of Independence it clearly states that, “…the right to life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Therefore this is showing that it would be going against the Declaration to not to have their right to pursuit their own happiness. The KKK believed that black people were inferior to whites and would ruin a member of the Klan.

In addition, the Klan also believed that black people were susceptible to disease, un-healthy and un-hygienic; they felt they could not afford to be clean to prevent diseases being caught. Imperial Wizard, H.W. Evans said that, “The records show the Negro to be susceptible to tuberculosis and the carriers of any venereal infections. He strongly felt that there were diseases because of Blacks. On the other hand, they could argue that they were poor and the Klan made this 10 times worse by reducing wages burning anything to do with blacks. An example would be the KKK burning down a school, they could learn about how to wash themselves and keep clean. But the Klan keep taking this away and denying them basic knowledge.      

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Finally, The Klan was intolerant to Black people they believed that they were intellectually inferior. Imperial Wizard H.W Evans states, that blacks could not, “Attain the Anglo-Saxon level”. This was scientifically
erroneous;
they believed that Blacks could not be as smart as white people.
Black people had poor intellect as they never had a proper education and the Klan did not help by burning every school they came across. This was very hard for black people and was denying them a right to an education, this goes against the American Constitution 1787. If the Klan believed they were true Americans they ...

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