The Klan

    The Ku Klux Klan started as a social club in Pulaski, Tennessee in the year 1865. In the summer of 1867 there was a meeting that took place where several of the newly cemented Klansmen referred to the Klan as the "Invisible Empire of the South". The Klan's mission was to reverse the new way of life that was established by the reconstruction. Because of this, they targeted any symbols of black autonomy. These symbols were mostly black schools, churches, as well as various black owned businesses. At least 10% of black legislators elected during the this era became victims of violence. Seven of these legislators were even slaughtered. 

By 1870, the Klan had branches in almost each of the southern states. Klan activity especially flourished in areas where blacks were the small minority and whites were an overwhelming majority. The so called "hot spot" for Klan members was in South Carolina especially. In 1871 masked Klansmen attacked the Union County jail in South Carolina and lynched eight of the black prisoners. This is only one example of the countless exhibitions of hate during this time. The Klan vehemently rejected the policies of President Andrew Johnson. One of these policies divided the south into 5 different military districts and required each state to approve the 14th amendment. 

When most people think of the Klan, they think of poor, southern whites. This claim was true for a percentage of Klansmen but not all. No, the Klan consisted of closeted racists. These included but not lim

ited to lawyers, doctors, judges, as well as local law enforcement. In fact, the local law enforcement that weren't even associated with the Klan decided that it'd be in their best interest of they just stayed out of the conflicts of the Klan altogether. This led to a point in time where blacks were subjected to ungodly amounts of hate with not a should to turn to. 

Around 1870 republican state governments were trying to turn to the federal government tp throw them a bone and this the then led to the Ku Klux Klan act of 1871. This act included the right to the suffrage of Black men and also included tighter policies around the shenanigans of the Klan. The act made it a federal offense to prohibit one's rights granted to them by the constitution such as the right to serve on a jury as well as holding public office. The Klan's mass reign of terror came to a grinding halt once Ulysses S. Grant took hold of executive office and used the newly expanding power of the federal government to crush Klan activity in the south. After this white supremacy gradually receded (at least the practice of it in the open).