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Essay on Ku Klux Klan
| Date: |
05-03-98 3:24pm |
| Subject: |
History |
| Word Count: |
2312 |
| Page Count: |
9.25 |
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Over the years many people havecreated
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 (Invisible 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 need 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 group's 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 Klan's 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 the Ku Klux Klan became uncontrollable and its remifications
engulfed the entire nation. Visitors to the town of Pulaski also inspired
the growth of the Ku Klux Klan. These visitors went back home after their
trips and began sitting up their own dens and branches of the Ku Klux Klan.
More that a dozen kindred groups were set up during this period. All of
these groups were deeply entrenched in the Southern states. Though the
growth of the Klan was steady, it was undirected and undisciplined causing
many of the dens to become violent and unruly. The Ku Klux Klan had a great
deal of external help in outgrowing the small town of Pulaski. Newspaper
and magazine articles added fuel by publishing propaganda and stories about
the mysterious order which had taken over the south. Indeed the Ku Klux
Klan had surpassed the expectations of the original members.
Members of the Ku Klux Klan saw the great
increase in growth of the group and decided to have a national convention
to help maintain order within the group. The Ku Klux Klan National Convention
was held in April of 1867 at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Hooded Americanism, p.9) Here the Grand Cyclops from all the dens met
to discuss and set the general guidelines for the Ku Klux Klan's different
dens across the United States, and the group also set specific rules for
members. Also at the convention the group drafted and approved a constitution
so everyone would be aware of the group's rules and regulations. It was
at this meeting the Ku Klux Klan decided to appoint a Grand Wizard to head
and control all of the dens of the Klan across the United States. General
Nathan Bedford Forrest was the group's choice for the position and he gladly
accepted. Under the command of General Forrest the Ku Klux Klan became
a greater voice in society than it had ever been. Since their new leader
was in place, the final objective of the convention was reached by creating
an official symbol of the Ku Klux Klan. The symbol is a cross with a drop
of blood(representing the blood of Jesus Christ) within a circle. This
symbol was meant to represent to totality of the White race. Admittedly,
the Ku Klux Klan still had problems, but after their national convention
may of its activities were more effective and organized.
Almost every group that has ever come about
has had its problems and the Ku Klux Klan was no exception. As with any
controversial group, the public asked the government for assistance in
disposing of this violent organization. The Ku Klux Klan had become soft
in enforcing its policies and this deficiency allowed its members to cause
chaos throughout the Southern states. Because many of the police supported
the Ku Klux Klan movement, may incidents occurred and no investigation
ever followed. The Ku Klux Klan was finally slowed when the Federal Bureau
of Investigation stepped in and became involved in reducing the power of
the group. The major reason many incidents took place is that many ex-confederate
soldiers had begun organizing their own dens. The hatred of blacks was
the main reason that may people decided to join the Ku Klux Klan movement.
Certainly, if the Ku Klux Klan had held to its original goals and purposes,
it could have avoided many problems and negative publicity it began to
have in later years.
As the Ku Klux Klan's membership grew,
it obtained a wide range of enrollees. The Ku Klux Klan had members from
all social classes. Not all of the members joined to cause trouble; many
joined to keep from being victims. Ku Klux Klan members admitted that they
were a "rough bunch of boys" and a ten dollar joining fee had allowed
anyone to join; no person was responsible for monitoring motives for joining.
For instance many politicians had joined just so they would have the help
of the Ku Klux Klan in campaigning for the election. General Forrest tried
to be strict on membership requirements, but his objective failed. As the
Ku Klux Klan began to branch out, the rules seemed to be forgotten. The
spurt in growth of membership was soon disrupted, and just before the 1900's
the Ku Klux Klan broke apart and would not officially come back until the
year 1915. The Ku Klux Klan never hit any significant growth period again
until the 1950's when the civil rights movement cause a large increase
in membership of the group. Eventhough the Ku Klux Klan dwindled
in membership, it never died in the eyes of the people who truly believed
in it.
The Ku Klux Klan has not drastically changed
since the origination of the group. The Ku Klux Klan today is an institution
of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism which are all characteristics
of the original Klan.("Southern Cross White Knights", p.2) Also, the Ku
Klux Klan is dedicated as preserving the maintenance of White Pride and
the rights of the White Race, which was also a goal of the original founders.("North
Georgia White Knights",p.1) The activities of the modern Ku Klux Klan vary
from den to den depending on the inclination of its members. Some dens
of the Ku Klux Klan tend to use more violence to express their viewpoint
than other dens. Some groups use threats, arson, and other forms
of violence to force their ideas on modern society, while others choose
just to march and protest opposing views. Regardless of the activities
each den decides to participate in, the main goal of the Ku Klux Klan today
is the progression of the White race and it is the same goal the original
founders focused on. The main characteristic of the Ku Klux Klan throughout
the years has been the group is a gathering of white Christian men and
women who have joined together because of a common bond they share by blood
and faith.("Knights of the KKK", p.1) This is what the original founders
intended the group to become and it has achieved this goal. Eventhough
the Ku Klux Klan is sometimes looked upon as a "hate group", the characteristics
of the group are a positive for society.
Since the late 1980's the Ku Klux Klan's
membership has gone through a major decline. Statistics show that the Ku
Klux Klan's memberships has dropped to about five thousand compared to
about forty-two thousand during the 1960's.(St. Louis Post Dispatch, p.1)
Many of the members have changed from their white robes to three piece
suits. People like David Duke, the Grand Wizard of the Klan during the
1970's and 1980's, have changed the image of the group. Many head officials
of the Klan now hold political offices and have other important roles in
the nation's government. At this point in time no single organization of
the Ku Klux Klan is in existence. The Klan has splintered into several
independent groups. Since the Ku Klux Klan has broken up into many groups,
no one knows the exact number of members of the Klan or its affiliated
groups. Although the Ku Klux Klan's members have changed their appearance
and the membership has declined, no one can deny that the Klan is still
a major influence on society.
Due to some changes in the Ku Klux Klan,
the organization now has new objectives. Leaders of the Klan now say they
work to replace the collapsed society and push for the advancement of the
White Race. Other objectives of the Klan are to start focusing on the family
again and to close the United States borders to stop immigration.("Kajun
Knights of the KKK", p.1) The Klan also intends on stopping abortion, reverse
discrimination, and welfare for those who do not need it.("Imperial Klans
of America", p.2) The most important objectives of the Klan today are to
outlaw homosexuality and inter-racial marriages. They attribute the imminent
down fall of modern society to these two problems. The Ku Klux Klan agrees
that everyone should be proud of their race, which means White people have
the right to be proud also. Therefore, the Ku Klux Klan reasons that all
anti-white policies should be discarded and people be hired, promoted,
and given scholarships according to their ability not for any other reason.
Any new members of the Ku Klux Klan have to take a pledge not to commit
any crime against anyone. The Ku Klux Klan's motto printed on propaganda
is "Not for self-But for others;" this is the main focus of the Klan today.
Eventhough the Ku Klux Klan has new objectives, the main goal of the organization
is to make the White race superior to all others.
Although the Ku Klux Klan has gone through
many changes since its beginning, the present Klan is not very different
from the original organization. Though the Ku Klux Klan is an organization
like no other, it still has endured many problems as do other groups. It
is impossible for people who do not study the Ku Klux Klan to understand
why it exist, but some of their concepts are really based on solid ground.
In fact, people are always commenting that people should stand up for what
they believe in and the Ku Klux Klan is a perfect example. If more people
would follow the Ku Klux Klan's example maybe this country would have more
people working to better life here.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chalmers, David M. Hooded Americanism.
New York:
Franklin Watts, 1981.
Horn, Stanley F. Invisible Empire.
Connecticut:
John E. Edwards, 1969.
Imperial Klans of America. http://www.kkkk.net/index.html.
13 April
1998.
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. http://www.kkk.com/intro.htm#stands.
11 April
1998.
Kajun Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
http://louisianaknights.com/belief.html.
13 April
1998
"KKK, Though in Decline, Packs Punch."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 26 August
1996, Section
News Analysis.
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. http://www.k-k-k.com/belief.html.
13 April
1998
North Georgia White Knights. http://www.theklan.com/inform.htm.
12 April
1998
Sims, Patsy. The Klan. New York:
Stein and Day, 1985.
Southern Cross Militant Knights
of the Ku Klux Klan. http://personal.atl.
bellsouth.net/atl/a/k/akia/index.html.
12 April 1998
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