Ku Klux Klan

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Ku Klux Klan It was the boredom of small town life that led six Confederate veterans to form a social club named the Ku Klux Klan. Eventually, the initials KKK took on terrifying connotations. Before its six founders realized what happened, the Ku Klux Klan had become something that they may not have originally intended it to be; something deadly serious. It seems incredible how an organization so violent, so opposed to the principles of justice and equality could have held such power three times, yet that power would instantly vanish. The power would rise rapidly and drop just as fast for what reason? The KKK has had four major periods of power yet was unable to maintain their position because of their inability to control their violence.

After the birth of the KKK in December of 1865, there was a rapid growth of interest from out-of-towners. This eventually would contribute to the first downfall of the Ku Klux Klan in 1869.

Shortly after the founders, one of which was Nathan Bedford Forrest the "leader", created the name for the Klan they began to do a bit of "˜showing off'. Dressing themselves and their horses in white sheets they rode around the town. This resulted in such a reaction that they decided to adopt these outfits as their official uniforms while adding pointed hats. They began having ceremonies to initiate new members to the Klan in a similar way to that of college fraternities. (www.unf.edu/dept.equalcploecll.htm) All of this excitement got the attention of men from other towns who soon became members too. With this increase of Klansmen their original philosophy began to alter. They were no longer just a social club but a secret society who opposed the advancement of blacks, Jews and other minority groups. By 1866, the...