The Klan of TerrorThe Klan of TerrorThe Klan Of TerrorOver the years many people have created groups to support their beliefs. These groups allow people with the same ideas to gather together and work out plans to advance their ideas. All of the groups that have been established have not necessarily gained a positive image from the public. One example is the Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan originated over one hundred years ago and has gone through many eras and changes since its beginning. Although many people know the Ku Klux Klan exists, they do not understand its purpose or how it has changed throughout its life.
After the Civil War ended, the Southern states went through a time known as Reconstruction. Ex-Confederate soldiers had returned home now, and they were still upset about the outcome of the war. It is at this point in time that the Ku Klux Klan became a part of everyday life for many Southerners. In the beginning the Ku Klux Klan was started to be a way for people who had the same views to spend time together. The original members meant of the Ku Klux Klan to be a hilarious social club that would be full of aimless fun (Invisable Empire, p.9), though in later years the Ku Klux Klan became known for their violence against people outside the white race and people who associated with them. Contrary to what most people believe, the Ku Klux Klan was started because of a few people wanted to have some innocent fun, not because they were intending to start a chain of violence on anyone outside the white race.(The Klan, p.2)
The Ku Klux Klan began in Pulaski, Tennessee, a small town south of Nashville. On the night of December 24, 1865 six ex-confederate soldiers were sitting around a fireplace it the law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones.(Invisible Empire, p.9) These six friends were having a discussion and were trying to come up with an idea to cheer themselves up. One of the men suggested that they should start a club and the rest of the men agreed with the idea. After discussing the mew idea, the men decided to meet again and retired for the night. The second meeting was again at Judge Thomas M. Jones law office and was attended by the same six men. During this meeting the group decided it needs a name. After many hours of deliberating they decided on the name derived from the Greek word kuklos, meaning circle Ku Klux.( Intro. to the Knights of the KKK , p.2) The group later added Klan to the word to make the phrase complete. At this time the group decided what to call the different ranks of the members, starting with the leader, the Grand Cyclops, all the way down to the ghouls, or members of no rank. When the men had finished organizing, they were overjoyed about their group, and they decided to show everyone their creation. The members wrapped themselves and their horses in sheet and rode through the small town and terrified everyone, especially Negroes. No doubt, this is the harmless little club that later would be taken to extremes by its members.
Admittedly, the Ku Klux Klan did become out of control in later years, but when it was first created it had no specific meaning; it was a way just to have fun. After the members saw the effect the groups appearance had on people, they began to use the results to their advantage. Because the Klan resembled ghost, many of the citizens of Pulaski believed them to be dead soldiers of the Confederate Army when they saw them riding on their horses through the small town. While Negroes were busy avoiding the Ku Klux Klan, its purpose changed. The Ku Klux Klan began aiming its violent actions toward Negroes, Jews, Orientals, and various other members of society that did not belong to the white race. Although violence was already occurring against non-whites before the organization of the Ku Klux Klan, the Klan used this fact as a way to keep their enemies under control. No one denies that the Ku Klux Klan became a brutal force over the years, but the fact remains that violence was not the reason the group was founded.
It is true that all groups and club must go through changes, but many changes of the changes which the Ku Klux Klan endured were not necessarily the best for everyone. Shortly after the Ku Klux Klans first ride, its members began to cause a major impact on society. Many members decided that the Klan could be used as a way of discrimination. Many members also saw the Ku Klux Klan as a way for the South to regain control and keep the Northern folk out. Another reason the Ku Klux Klan changed is that members broke off from the original den and created their own dens. At this point in time any roughouser could join the Ku Klux Klan for only ten dollars. By 1879 the membership of the Ku Klux Klan had exceeded eighty-five thousand members. Many people believe this is the point when
KUALDETROIT, Nov. 8, 1895. A new organization called the Klan and Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of America, was formed and established in 1884. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of America was a group of white members who called that part of California home. By this time only about 2,200 of the 8,000 people were known in California. In 1865 these small groups created the KWUAs. They led an 1844 march through Berkeley, Berkeley and many others. They then continued their march to Las Vegas and New Orleans, Louisiana, then began work on a new name. In 1883 they finally went on to form the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of America. During this period the KWU as well as their members moved to California. In the late 1920’s the Klan became a white organization of a small number of Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of America.
A few years after the Klan disbanded, there was an increasing number of Klan activity, including the group called The Klansmen, The JTZ-L, The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and The Black Panther Party. However, the JTZ-L and the Knights of the Klansmen would not be the same Klan soon enough. According to an organization that records, The Klan in 1860 was only one of the group that operated in a small town in the country. By the 1890’s the group was still small, only twenty four at that stage. During the years of violent clashes in the early 1860’s the Klan had a very small presence.
A very interesting fact about the Klan of the West is that it was founded in California when 1869 is the year that the Klan was formed as an organization. This fact is important for understanding the history and context of the early Klan. The California Klan is perhaps an interesting historical background for most people. California was not a land where white people were the first settlers of the country. But that period was when California was the “Big Home.” Before that time there was only one black population in the entire state of California. Today there are approximately four thousand Blacks in California. In this period there was the development of the Klan in the state of California. This is probably because the Klan was only one of the groups in the state that made up this great mass of people. In this period Klan members were primarily white and there was an emphasis on the white working class. The Klan saw itself as a social-democratic organization. The Klan was more concerned with white people than black people. The KKK was the white men’s party. Their only problem was that black people preferred to be tied to white men and that they did not appreciate that their position would be taken by whites. As soon as the Klan merged with the white elite it changed the complexion of the society and also the political system.
During the years that the Klan existed there are signs of change in the Klan. After the Civil War a large group of white men began to take on the Klan. Many Klan members began to adopt the