kkk def
Ku Klux Klan. noun. The definition of Ku Klux Klan is a secret society in the southern U.S. that focuses on white supremacy and terrorizes other groups. An example of the Ku Klux Klan is a group of men who are anti-black, anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic.
founded
1866, during the civil war
what was it
a racist organisation that aimed to terrorise black Americans in the southern states who had just been freed from slavery
after a period of decline when and how was the movement revived
in 1915,
by William J Simmons following the release of the film Birth of the Nation, which showed Klan members saving whites from blacks
who were the only people able to join the clan
WASPS
what did clan members believe
thought they were superior to other races,
anti-black/jew/communist/foreigners
what caused Klan membership to rise sharply in the early 1920s
concerns over immigration, the Red Scare
how many members did it have in 1920
100,000
how many members did it have in 1925
5 million
what was the name of the head of the Klan and who was he
the Imperial Wizard
Hiram Wesley
what was the name of the leader of each state
Grand Dragon
what did they wear and what did it symbolise
white robes and hoods to symbolise white supremacy
what did they carry and burn
carried american flag, burnt crosses during their night time meetings
what did they do
carried out lynchings, floggings, brandings, mutilation, tar ad feathering, kidnappings, boycotts on anti-Klan shops, terrorised non WASPs
why werent Klan members brought to justice
they had friends in high places, eg as judges who they knew wouldnt convict them
many politicians resisted speaking out for fear of losing white votes
federal gvt found it hard to change the long held views of white supremacy in the South