A White Shroud Of Cowardice Essay

Intimidation Tactics of the Ku Klux KlanTopic: Intimidation tactics of the Ku Klux KlanQuestion: What tactics would the Ku Klux Klan use to intimidate African Americans in the US?Thesis: The KKK would impose fear in African Americans by using violent and symbolic methods to intimidate them.Since the start of the Ku Klux Klan in 1865, members have used violent means to intimidate African Americans and other groups of ethically “unclean” people. The KKK would impose fear in African Americans by using violent and symbolic methods to intimidate them. Although these tactics worked for sometime, it ultimately led to their downfall.Immediately after the 13th Amendment was passed, which officially ended slavery in the U.S., many Civil War veterans, who had fought for the Confederate side, despised the idea of blacks living among them equally. This led to them to create the Klan, as a way to control the black population in the South. One way they did this was by carrying out attacks in order to intimidate them. These attacks were usually carried out in rural areas, during nighttime, which led to the members being nicknamed “nightriders.” The Klan would travel to the victim’s house, knock down their doors, whip them, and aim loaded guns at them.1 During these encounters, many women were even sexually abused or raped. Other methods used were hateful, racist rhetoric being shouted at blacks, along with ceremonial cross burnings and public lynchings to remind people of the KKK’s strong

The first era Ku Klux Klan was formed in Tennessee on December 1865 at the end of the civil war. The Ku Klux Klan was formed as a movement for white supremacy. It was formed as a violent group that relied on fear tactics to stay in power. As Jonathan M. Bryant said in an article “The Klan 's organized terrorism began most notably on March 31, 1868, when Republican organizer George Ashburn was murdered in Columbus, Georgia.” George W. Ashburn (1814 - March 30, 1868) was a Georgia politician assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan in Columbus, Georgia for his pro-African-American sentiments. He was the first murder victim of the Klan in Georgia. This the first of the Klan’s organized terrorism it was soon followed by more.

There are three distinct historical interpretations of the Klan as an organization. The first historical interpretations argue that the Klan was established as an organization answering to a society in need of help with maintaining social order and law. Historians within this interpretation emphasize the playfulness and theatrical nature of the Klan which is unique to this particular historical perspective. This era of interpretation focuses very little on the violence that the Klan inflicted on Southern society, often completely eliminating its violent accounts from their historical works. The second historical interpretations argue that the Klan was established as a racially motivated political organization. Historians argued that because of the Klan’s origins as a racially motivated organization, the Klan would go on to establish political dominance and control over much of Southern society. The third and final historical interpretation argues that the Ku Klux Klan was established as a result to a struggling plantation system. Within this historical era of interpretation, Michael W. Fitzgerald describes the Klan as a non-violent enforcer that was created to control petty theft and labor riots. The establishment of the Klan as a political organization with race

The Klan usually wears masks, white sheets, and cardboard hats. This is seen as one of America's first genuine terrorist group, having a commitment to reach its ideal achievements through acts of uttermost torture and violence. The KKK or The Klan, is a white bigot group and evolution with the goal of racial discrimination. The KKK determined to make sure anyone who was characterized as a foreigner was resented, killed and torched. Numerous of African Americans, whites who were affectionate towards them, as well as many immigrants of all and any countries. This Klan appearance began after the Civil War and as kept its main target on violence and

The Klu Klux Klan was formed in 1866 by a group of Confederate soldiers in Pulaski, Tennessee. It was a social club or fraternity for the veterans but later had different views and became a terrorist group (PBS). The name of the group came from the Greek word “kyklos” meaning circle and then they added Klan to make the name flow (History.com Staff). It did not start with the thought of malicious activity. They would have secret meetings and elaborate ceremonies to discuss how they could stop reconstruction after the civil war. The members would wear white sheets that covered their whole body and pointy white caps to make them appear taller. This was an all white group and ended up being one of the deadliest terrorist groups (EyeWitness to History). General Nathan Bedford Forrest was the Klu Klux Klan’s first “grand wizard,” also known as

The start of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in 1866, expanded throughout most of the southern states by 1870. This Klan is known for its discrimination against African Americans, which has had major effects on today’s society. “Making or perceiving differences and distinctions,” is the definition of discrimination (Webster dictionary). Not only did they discriminate against Africans Americans but also Jews, and Catholics (history,com staff). Since the birth of the KKK society was not only affected by the discrimination of the Klan, but also the activities, and the brutal events.

Southern americans showed extreme contempt for African Americans even after the end of the civil war. They believed that blacks were uncivilized and unworthy of american citizenship and voting rights. This distain for blacks became a learned behavior and continued into the 20th century. Beginning as early as 1865 a group of called the Ku Klux Klan sought out african americans and killed and tortured them in horrible ways. By 1870, the Ku Klux Klan had branches in nearly every southern state, the groups main object being an underground campaign of violence against Republican leaders and voters in an effort to change the laws of Radical Reconstruction and restore white supremacy in the South.(J.M. Bryant "Ku Klux Klan in the Reconstruction Era.") The KKK’s tactics of political terrorism were effective and set fear in the hearts of many. Black churches and schools were burned, citizens attacked, and people who refused proper submission were beaten and killed. This was a terrible time in American history and truly shows southern whites contempt for emancipation of their slaves, and the extremes circumstances whites would go to express that animosity.

The second Ku Klux Klan lasted between 1915 to 1944 but predominantly rose and fell during the 1920s. The Ku Klux Klan was a white supremacist group with millions of members who brutally tortured and killed anyone who was not a white American. The Ku Klux Klan were known for their white robes, cone hats, and covered faces that disguised their identities. The second Ku Klux Klan’s most important part of it’s history was it’s dramatic rise and fall. The Ku Klux Klan rapidly gained popularity during the 1920s due to political encouragement and immigration, then fell due to political corruption.

The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866 by a group of former Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennesse. The first two words in the groups name supposedly derived from the Greek word "kyklos" which translates to circle. There first leader (known in the Klan as "grand wizard")Nathan Bedford Forrest was a former Confederate general. The group worked to establish what they called the " Invisible Empire of the South" Over the course of four short years had spread to almost every southern state. It was viewed primarily by white 's in the south as there resistance to the Republican Party 's Reconstruction policies that worked toward equality for blacks. The Ku Klux Klan (referred to

Hooded Americanism: The First Century of the Ku Klux Klan: 1865 to the Present by David Chalmers records the history of the Ku Klux Klan quite bluntly, all the way from its creation following the civil war, to the early 1960’s. The author starts the book quite strongly by discussing in detail many acts of violence and displays of hatred throughout the United States. He makes a point to show that the Klan rode robustly throughout all of the country, not just in the southern states. The first several chapters of the book focus on the Klan’s creation in 1865. He goes on to discuss the attitude of many Americans following the United State’s Civil War and how the war shaped a new nation. The bulk of the book is used to go through many of

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was originally formed as a social group in 1866. Their motives began dramatically changing. The once

Visualize living in a society during which friends, loved ones along with neighborhood friends usually are murdered mainly because of color with their skin. The KKK has used violence and activities exempt from the law to cause their reason. It has been around for more than 130 years while it continues prospering in America's overall population today. The Ku Klux Klan is delegated as an as a hate group, and proceeded through their anger through three stages in American history.

The Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1866 by six former Confederate officers in Pulaski, Tennessee. The K.K.K was at first a social organization to play practical jokes on themselves and others, but then turned into a racist organization that threated the lives of African Americans. “The first two words of the organization’s name supposedly derived from the Greek word “kyklos,” meaning circle.” The members of the K.K.K hung African Americans to kill and show that all whites want to rule this country. Some modern historians call The Ku Klux Klan trials a great victory while others say it was an epic failure. The K.K.K. wanted white people to rule, even if they used “forced by force, to use force.”[Bartoletti, pg.13] By farming this group Klansmen

The Ku Klux Klan( K.K.K.) is a domestic terrorist organization established during the Reconstruction era. Slavery was no longer a legal business during this time period but freedom was hardly available to millions of newly freed blacks. The membership of the hate group was dominated by lawmakers, more specifically republicans from Pulaski, Tennessee. White men and women dressed in white robes and cone shaped masks and often rallied at night to terrorize black communities. The mindsets of Klan members were centered on black and white- no metaphor. They felt that the white race was superior and blacks were inferior. In the southern states black people were being murdered and terrorized by the thousands and because the Klan had direct influences with the local police forces, judges, and medical professionals, there was no justice for black victims.

With the outbreak of World War I and the constant fear of a communist revolution, the Klan was reestablished and brought back into power in 1915, this time targeting more than African Americans. The Klan now fought against African-Americans, foreigners, Jews, socialists, Roman Catholics, and communists, with its main opponent being the NAACP. “All hyphenated groups - whether they be Negro-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Catholic-Americans, Italian-Americans or whatever must become American-Americans, or leave the country! The Ku Klux Klan is an American-American organization. As the Army of the Klan we Klavaliers are dedicated to saving America for Americans!”3