A near half a century had passed on, till the Ku Klux Klan had found its roots again. It was re-organised by two female Marketing experts, Edgar Clarke and Elizabeth Tyler. The Klan was once revived again, by not only to continue on its old traditions, to victimise the Blacks but partly by patriotism and partly because of nostalgia for the ‘old South’. More importantly, it was a response or rather a defensive action taken towards the large-scale immigration of the previous decades that had changed the ethnic character of American society and left many Native Americans’ jobs endangered by immigrants working for cheap labour. Alternatively, the KKK had become a profitable business. With its increasing popularity, recruits were charged at 10 dollars, whereas the robes were sold at $6.50 and yet cost nearly half that to make. All merchandises were made by the Ku Klux Klan, in some respects its goods had become a collectors items. The Klan peaked again in the 1920’s, when its membership exceeded to 4,000,000 members nationally, and profits rolled in from the sale of its memberships, regalia, costumes, publications, and rituals. The work of the Klansmen had expanded. They were now involved in marches, parades, and night time cross burnings all over the country. Not only did membership give it’s people identity and importance in society, but also had links to the government, and therefore made an impact in the running of the southern west of the country. It was claimed at this stage, the membership of the Klan had risen to a striking 7,000,000 people. The establishment had become so extensive, that the it had to be divided into eight domains, i.e. eight parts of the country which where going to be run by a Grand Goblin, next in line were the Grand Goblins who had control of the divided domains which were called realms. Under this, were the fellow Kluds and Kleagles, being the majority of its members. It had taken the Ku Klux Klan to create many divisions within itself, to attain control, organisation and to be kept structured. The Klan enjoyed a last spurt of growth in 1928, when Alfred E. Smith, a Catholic, received the Democratic presidential nomination. Since time had passed, from the original set up of the KKK, it had grown to oppose many other cultures, religions and communities besides the African Americans. Alongside them were gypsies, foreigners and communist and radicals. The Klan was also dominated by Protestant Christians, which contrasted Catholics and Jews. Finally, the Ku Kluxes hated the idea of modern society and the way young women behaved, which differed to the idyllic women they preferred. In other words, a member had to be a W.A.S.P to be part of the Klan, otherwise it was against them. In spite of the Klan’s popularity membership dropped drastically during the Great Depression in the 1930s, the whole organisation came to a halt in 1944 and for the following 20 years the Klan as a whole became inactive. But the group stimulated once again, when civil right workers attempted to force Southern communities' compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The events had caused numerous instances of bombings, whippings, and shootings in Southern communities, carried out in secret by the enthused Klansmen. The outrages were so radical, President Lyndon Johnson publicly criticised the organization in a nationwide television address announcing the arrest of four Klansmen in connection with the slaying of a female civil-rights worker. Although the organization continued some of its surreptitious activities into the late 20th century, cases of Klan violence became more isolated, and its membership had declined to just a few thousand. Once, the organisation which was indestructible had shattered. The KKK still exists today, but unlike in it’s olden-golden days, it’s rather made up of several separate and competing groups, some of which occasionally entered into alliances with neo-Nazi and other right-wing extremist groups.
Conversely, not the whole of America joined the Ku Klux Klan when it was crowning during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many Americans opposed the Klan’s’ motives and purposes. Many of these being northern Americans, who were exploring a much diverse society as it modernised, loathed slavery and the proposal of an overall white supremacy, which was demonstrated in the Civil war. The act of the Ku Klux Klan had also led to an increase of protests which led to a growing civil rights movement in the 1950’s and 1960’s, but these rights gave Blacks more equal opportunities, which infuriated members of the Klan and caused an increase in their activities. In a few states, such as Arkansas and North Carolina, white Republicans organized armed force to brake up the Klan. In most states, however, federal intervention was required, as the group was so forceful. Although the KKK had connections with the government, it did not persuade every politician to become a member, many congress and liberals were against the Ku Klux Klan, and were determined to bring an end to their enormous establishment.
I can know deduce that the Ku Klux Klan were big, were strong, and definitely were sadistic in their time, but they did have many enemies who did not let them achieve White Supremacy throughout the country! But did the Ku Klux Klan make a massive impact to change American History 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!)
