1. Analyze the rise and impact of white supremacist movements in the South. Explain the causes for their rise, identify the segments of society involved, and describe the impact they had on southern society and politics.
The Ku Klux Klan began as a social club constructed by “ex-Confederate officers in the small Tennessee town of Pulaski.”(McCaslin, ed., Reader in American History, pg 2) As time past the group began to evolve into a radical, racist, political organization with the intent to eradicate “Congressional Reconstruction”(McCaslin, pg 4) within the governmental system in the South, following the Civil War. Thus began their rise. The Klan memership overlapped with “all levels of white society,”(McCaslin pg 4) however the upper level class was most prominent making it an advantage for them to create a voice in …show more content…
Republican votes fell from “1,000 to fewer than 100.”(McClasin pg 5) Due to the Klan's rule in the majority of southern states it was difficult for any form of police of governmental position to intervene. Law enforcement was either apart of the Klan or there were simply not enough. The Klan became such and intimidating and dominating force that even arresting a Klansman recreated a fear that was so much individuals would be too afraid to testify. This fear thus gave the Klan approval to commit any act for their were no negative repercussions. It was because of this that in 1870 the Republican southern state governments sought out aid from Congress. Congress then acted quickly by conducting and investigation that resulted in “two Force Acts and an anti-Ku Klux Klan Law.”(McClasin, pg 7) These acts and law, mad the Klan responsible for their actions. Their actions could be condemned under a federal offense, and or conspiracy. There were several cases that were submitted and tried and several convictions. This resulted in the flight of many Klan members and a numerous amount of
The Ku Klux Klan began as a social club constructed by “ex-Confederate officers in the small Tennessee town of Pulaski.”(McCaslin, ed., Reader in American History, pg 2) As time past the group began to evolve into a radical, racist, political organization with the intent to eradicate “Congressional Reconstruction”(McCaslin, pg 4) within the governmental system in the South, following the Civil War. Thus began their rise. The Klan memership overlapped with “all levels of white society,”(McCaslin pg 4) however the upper level class was most prominent making it an advantage for them to create a voice in …show more content…
Republican votes fell from “1,000 to fewer than 100.”(McClasin pg 5) Due to the Klan's rule in the majority of southern states it was difficult for any form of police of governmental position to intervene. Law enforcement was either apart of the Klan or there were simply not enough. The Klan became such and intimidating and dominating force that even arresting a Klansman recreated a fear that was so much individuals would be too afraid to testify. This fear thus gave the Klan approval to commit any act for their were no negative repercussions. It was because of this that in 1870 the Republican southern state governments sought out aid from Congress. Congress then acted quickly by conducting and investigation that resulted in “two Force Acts and an anti-Ku Klux Klan Law.”(McClasin, pg 7) These acts and law, mad the Klan responsible for their actions. Their actions could be condemned under a federal offense, and or conspiracy. There were several cases that were submitted and tried and several convictions. This resulted in the flight of many Klan members and a numerous amount of