Ku_Klux_Klan

White supremacy is the main view and ultimate goal for the Klu Klux Klan. Many African Americans, and others, have been tortured and killed by this horrific organization. The history, ceremonies and views, and influence of the KKK are primarily unknown to many people in the United States and around the world. The Klu Klux Klan's origins date back to just after the American Civil War in Tennessee. Pulaski, Tennessee is the home of the first Klan. Established in May, 1866 the Klu Klux Klan quickly took affect sweeping through the south and setting up organizations in various states, such as North Carolina and Tennessee. Nathan Forrest was the first "Grand Wizard" and many of the leaders that took direction from him were former members of the Confederate Army. In 1915 the Klan was reformed by a preacher named William J. Simmons. As the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People grew and became more popular in the black community, it also became the biggest opponent of the Klu Klux Klan. Holding it’s annual conference in one of the most active Klan areas in 1920 the NAACP tried to show that it was not intimidated by the KKK. This fueled the fire for the Klan and made their hatred for the African American people grow even more. After WWI blacks were not the only target for the KKK. Jews, Roman Catholics, socialists, and communists were added to the list of hated people, along with anybody else seen as a foreigner. Hiram W. Evans became the Klu Klux Klan’s “Imperial Wizard” in November, 1922 and brought a strong influence to the organization. Many members joined and became involved in the KKK. After Klan leader David C. Stephenson was convicted of second degree murder, and other officials had evidence against them brought forth, membership fell to only about 30,000. The KKK stilled survived through the Great Depression and WWII and fell apart in 1944 until the Civil Rights Movements in the 1950’s. The Klu Klux Klan not only killed African Americans, but also whites who were sympathetic to them because they were viewed as unequal and a lesser race. The original goal of the Klan was to make sure blacks did not vote. The White Brotherhood, the Men of Justice, the Constitutional Union Guards and the Knights of the White Camelia also joined the Klu Klux Klan in their efforts (schoolnet 1).