Ku Klux Klan | Definition & History

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border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan">Ku Klux Klan</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref348061"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan#ref348061">The original Ku Klux Klan</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref348062"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan/Revival-of-the-Ku-Klux-Klan">Revival of the Ku Klux Klan</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Ku-Klux-Klan">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/192833-050-2B05C787/Members-swastika-cross-rally-Ku-Klux-Klan-April-23-2016.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/216159" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/192833-004-1882A6BA/Members-swastika-cross-rally-Ku-Klux-Klan-April-23-2016.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan: 2016 rally" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/190741-050-86537C0E/cross-Ku-Klux-Klan-Tennessee-1948.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/213457" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/190741-004-656BD12B/cross-Ku-Klux-Klan-Tennessee-1948.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/1960-050-61024852/Ku-Klux-Klan-members-Pennsylvania-Ave-Washington-Aug-18-1925.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/12467" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/1960-004-BBA2FC75/Ku-Klux-Klan-members-Pennsylvania-Ave-Washington-Aug-18-1925.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/190427-050-60FA5D8E/members-illustration-Ku-Klux-Klan-Harpers-Weekly-December-19-1868.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/213465" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/190427-004-F9D6D168/members-illustration-Ku-Klux-Klan-Harpers-Weekly-December-19-1868.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/174777-050-E0807D74/Scene-The-Birth-of-a-Nation-DW.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/187690" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/174777-004-06860A17/Scene-The-Birth-of-a-Nation-DW.jpg" alt="D.W. Griffith: The Birth of a Nation" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/78410-050-290F9DEE/meeting-Ku-Klux-Klan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/213463" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/78410-004-48BE992E/meeting-Ku-Klux-Klan.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan: meeting" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/91424-050-B8D23EE1/initiation-ceremony-Ku-Klux-Klan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/92182" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/91424-004-18004705/initiation-ceremony-Ku-Klux-Klan.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/177952-050-57FBBFB6/members-initiation-ceremony-Ku-Klux-Klan-Wisconsin.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/213459" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/177952-004-81044EB3/members-initiation-ceremony-Ku-Klux-Klan-Wisconsin.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan: initiation ceremony" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/192834-050-8F1AEF4B/Ku-Klux-Klan-member-noose-effort-automobile-May-3-1939.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/216161" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/192834-004-57094E5C/Ku-Klux-Klan-member-noose-effort-automobile-May-3-1939.jpg" alt="Ku Klux Klan: noose" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/summary/Ku-Klux-Klan"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default " height="200" width="200"/> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/summary/Ku-Klux-Klan" >Ku Klux Klan summary</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-questions"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 pb-0 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-15"> Related Questions </div> <ul> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-was-Nathan-Bedford-Forrests-role-in-the-Fort-Pillow-Massacre">What was Nathan Bedford Forrest’s role in the Fort Pillow Massacre?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-did-Nathan-Bedford-Forrest-do-after-the-Civil-War">What did Nathan Bedford Forrest do after the Civil War?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-is-Nathan-Bedford-Forrests-reputation-today">What is Nathan Bedford Forrest’s reputation today?</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/100-years-since-the-death-of-leo-frank"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/183176-131-EDCB2A5A/Leo-Frank.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Leo Frank, convicted of murdering one of his employees. 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</div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Areas Of Involvement: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/terrorism">terrorism</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/white-supremacy">white supremacy</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/hate-crime">hate crime</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Nathan-Bedford-Forrest">Nathan Bedford Forrest</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Hugo-L-Black">Hugo Black</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Ku-Klux-Klan"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="ai-top-questions-module with-dotted-border module-spacing ai-tq collapsed font-sans-serif"> <div class="font-weight-bold font-16"> Top Questions </div> <ul class="mt-5"> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded "> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="0"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What is the Ku Klux Klan?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded "> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="1"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">When and where was the Ku Klux Klan founded?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded "> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="2"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What were the initial goals of the Ku Klux Klan when it was first established?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="3"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How did the Ku Klux Klan's activities change over time?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="4"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How did the Ku Klux Klan influence politics and society in the United States?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="5"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What role did the Ku Klux Klan play during the Civil Rights Movement?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="6"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How has the Ku Klux Klan been challenged or opposed by other groups?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="7"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How does the Ku Klux Klan compare to other hate groups in the U.S. and around the world?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> </ul> <button class="show-more btn btn-unstyled font-14 p-5 pr-10 mb-10 rounded-sm d-none"><em class="material-icons " data-icon="expand_more"></em> Show more</button> <button class="show-less btn btn-unstyled font-14 p-5 pr-10 mb-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons " data-icon="expand_less"></em> Show less</button> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/kkk-halloween-far-right-extremism-growth-atlantic-canada-research-1.7378798" rel="nofollow">KKK Halloween costumes symptom of growing far-right in Atlantic Canada, researcher says</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 9, 2024, 4:43 AM ET (CBC) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.newsweek.com/canada-halloween-costume-north-sydney-firefighters-kkk-1977236" rel="nofollow">KKK Costumes at Firefighter Halloween Party Spark Outrage: 'Blatant Racism'</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Oct. 31, 2024, 3:15 AM ET (Newsweek) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/324086/04c6f2d4e090c94cfdb1e949db82c532" rel="nofollow">Trump rally at Madison Square Garden follows a long tradition in politics</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Oct. 26, 2024, 12:09 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="213457" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/190741-050-86537C0E/cross-Ku-Klux-Klan-Tennessee-1948.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/324086/213457"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/190741-050-86537C0E/cross-Ku-Klux-Klan-Tennessee-1948.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/190741-050-86537C0E/cross-Ku-Klux-Klan-Tennessee-1948.jpg?w=300" alt="Ku Klux Klan" data-width="800" data-height="555" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/190741-050-86537C0E/cross-Ku-Klux-Klan-Tennessee-1948.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/213457">Ku Klux Klan</a><span>The Ku Klux Klan burning a cross in Tennessee, 1948.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="12467" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/1960-050-61024852/Ku-Klux-Klan-members-Pennsylvania-Ave-Washington-Aug-18-1925.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/324086/12467"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/1960-050-61024852/Ku-Klux-Klan-members-Pennsylvania-Ave-Washington-Aug-18-1925.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/1960-050-61024852/Ku-Klux-Klan-members-Pennsylvania-Ave-Washington-Aug-18-1925.jpg?w=300" alt="Ku Klux Klan" data-width="1600" data-height="1114" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/1960-050-61024852/Ku-Klux-Klan-members-Pennsylvania-Ave-Washington-Aug-18-1925.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/12467">Ku Klux Klan</a><span>Ku Klux Klan members parading along Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., August 18, 1925</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref136533"></span>Ku Klux Klan</strong>, either of two distinct U.S. hate organizations that employed terror in pursuit of their <span id="ref136536"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/white-supremacy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">white supremacist</a> agenda. One group was founded immediately after the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Civil War</a> and lasted until the 1870s. The other began in 1915 and has continued to the present.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref348061"> <h2 class="h1">The original Ku Klux Klan</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="213465" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/190427-050-60FA5D8E/members-illustration-Ku-Klux-Klan-Harpers-Weekly-December-19-1868.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/324086/213465"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/190427-050-60FA5D8E/members-illustration-Ku-Klux-Klan-Harpers-Weekly-December-19-1868.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/190427-050-60FA5D8E/members-illustration-Ku-Klux-Klan-Harpers-Weekly-December-19-1868.jpg?w=300" alt="Ku Klux Klan" data-width="1267" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/190427-050-60FA5D8E/members-illustration-Ku-Klux-Klan-Harpers-Weekly-December-19-1868.jpg" data-href="/media/1/324086/213465">Ku Klux Klan</a><span>Two members of the Ku Klux Klan, illustration from <em>Harper's Weekly</em>, December 19, 1868.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The 19th-century Klan was originally organized as a social club by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Confederate-States-of-America" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Confederate</a> veterans in Pulaski, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tennessee" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tennessee</a>, in 1866. They apparently derived the name from the Greek word <em>kyklos</em>, from which comes the English “circle”; “Klan” was added for the sake of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="alliteration" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alliteration" data-type="MW">alliteration</a> and Ku Klux Klan emerged. The organization quickly became a vehicle for <span id="ref136534"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/the-South-region" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Southern</a> white underground resistance to <span id="ref136535"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Radical-Reconstruction" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Radical Reconstruction</a>. Klan members sought the restoration of white supremacy through intimidation and violence aimed at the newly enfranchised <span id="ref136537"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/African-American" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Black</a> freedmen. A similar organization, the <span id="ref136538"></span>Knights of the White Camelia, began in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Louisiana-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Louisiana</a> in 1867.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In the summer of 1867, the Klan was structured into the “Invisible Empire of the South” at a convention in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nashville-Tennessee" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nashville</a>, Tennessee, attended by delegates from former Confederate states. The group was presided over by a <span id="ref136539"></span>grand wizard (Confederate cavalry general <span id="ref136540"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nathan-Bedford-Forrest" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nathan Bedford Forrest</a> is believed to have been the first grand wizard) and a descending <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="hierarchy" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hierarchy" data-type="MW">hierarchy</a> of grand dragons, grand titans, and grand cyclopses. Dressed in robes and sheets designed to frighten superstitious Blacks and to prevent identification by the occupying federal troops, Klansmen whipped and killed freedmen and their white supporters in nighttime raids.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The 19th-century Klan reached its peak between 1868 and 1870. A potent force, it was largely responsible for the restoration of white rule in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Carolina-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North Carolina</a>, Tennessee, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Georgia-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Georgia</a>. But Forrest ordered it disbanded in 1869, largely as a result of the group’s excessive violence. Local branches remained active for a time, however, prompting Congress to pass the <span id="ref136541"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Force-Acts" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Force Act</a> in 1870 and the Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The bills authorized the president to suspend the writ of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/habeas-corpus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">habeas corpus</a>, suppress disturbances by force, and impose heavy penalties upon terrorist organizations. Pres. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ulysses-S-Grant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ulysses S. Grant</a> was lax in utilizing this authority, although he did send federal troops to some areas, suspend habeas corpus in nine <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Carolina" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Carolina</a> counties, and appoint commissioners who arrested hundreds of Southerners for <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conspiracy" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conspiracy" data-type="MW">conspiracy</a>. A <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/grand-jury" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">grand jury</a>, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="convened" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convened" data-type="MW">convened</a> in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1871 to investigate the activities of the Klan, concluded, in part:</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <blockquote> <p>During the whole session we have been engaged in investigations of the most grave and extraordinary character—investigations of the crimes committed by the organization known as the Ku Klux Klan. The evidence elicited has been voluminous, gathered from the victims themselves and their families, as well as those who belong to the Klan and participated in its crimes. The jury has been shocked beyond measure at the developments which have been made in their presence of the number and character of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="atrocities" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/atrocities" data-type="EB">atrocities</a> committed, producing a state of terror and a sense of utter insecurity among a large portion of the people, especially the colored population.</p> </blockquote> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In <span id="ref136542"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-v-Harris" class="md-crosslink "><em>United States</em> v. <em>Harris</em></a> in 1882, the Supreme Court declared the Ku Klux Klan Act unconstitutional, but by that time the Klan had practically disappeared.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">It disappeared because its original objective—the restoration of white supremacy throughout the South—had been largely achieved during the 1870s. The need for a secret antiblack organization diminished accordingly.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":2,"pageId":324086,"pageLength":497,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Ku Klux Klan | Definition & History | Britannica