In 1865, a social club of former confederate soldiers organized a group called the Ku Klux Klan, also known as the “KKK”. During Ulysses S. Grant election for the presidency, a reign of terror loomed over the South in the form of these white supremacists. Southern Democrats, in defiance of the Republican Federal Government, organized violent groups. The goal was to intimidate blacks and Republicans who tried to gain political power. This resulted in many deaths and the deterioration of the political powers of black Southerners and Republicans. In the South blacks and Republicans were targeted due to race which often ended in riots. The Ku Klux Klan’s numbers grew rapidly in both mass and strength. By 1868, followers of a hooded terrorist organization
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In order to stop the violence, and protect black Southerners, people realized that they would have to establish harsher laws. In 1867 The First Reconstruction Act was passed. This act put into place harsher restrictions and closely regulated the South, along with watching their new governments. Republican Ulysses S. Grant won office in 1868 making the majority of congress Republican. Disgusted by the Klan and their violence many Northerners lent their support to the Fifth Amendment, while others attacked the Klan more directly. By 1870, the Klan infiltrated almost every Southern state. The Enforcement Acts were passed by Congress between 1870 and 1871. This made interfering with black people’s registration, voting, office holding or jury service a crime. Under these laws more than five-thousand people were prosecuted and a little more than one-thousand were convicted. Congress also passed the Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871, which allowed government to act upon terrorist organization. Ulysses S. Grant ordered the arrest of hundreds of Klan members. However, he did not regularly enforce laws in regards to them. Convictions in the South were difficult to obtain due to the overwhelming support of the Klan. Financial panic distracted the North from dealing with problems in the South. Consequently, the Ku Klux Klan regained influence in the South. By the end of 1876, Democrats once again were in control and doing little to control the group. However, their control would not last. State elections and aggressive federal interventions caused the Klan organization to be weakened. This was the end of where the first Ku Klux Klan
In order to stop the violence, and protect black Southerners, people realized that they would have to establish harsher laws. In 1867 The First Reconstruction Act was passed. This act put into place harsher restrictions and closely regulated the South, along with watching their new governments. Republican Ulysses S. Grant won office in 1868 making the majority of congress Republican. Disgusted by the Klan and their violence many Northerners lent their support to the Fifth Amendment, while others attacked the Klan more directly. By 1870, the Klan infiltrated almost every Southern state. The Enforcement Acts were passed by Congress between 1870 and 1871. This made interfering with black people’s registration, voting, office holding or jury service a crime. Under these laws more than five-thousand people were prosecuted and a little more than one-thousand were convicted. Congress also passed the Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871, which allowed government to act upon terrorist organization. Ulysses S. Grant ordered the arrest of hundreds of Klan members. However, he did not regularly enforce laws in regards to them. Convictions in the South were difficult to obtain due to the overwhelming support of the Klan. Financial panic distracted the North from dealing with problems in the South. Consequently, the Ku Klux Klan regained influence in the South. By the end of 1876, Democrats once again were in control and doing little to control the group. However, their control would not last. State elections and aggressive federal interventions caused the Klan organization to be weakened. This was the end of where the first Ku Klux Klan