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The Start of the Ku Klux Klan
Founded in 1865 as an organization that helped raise money for widows and orphans. The organization has been dismantled multiple time due to the act of violence. The Klan does not have a national base or headquarters. Each group has its own headquarters and leaders based on region or state. Their objective or goal is to allow only white Christians civil rights.
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Disbanding of the Original KKK
In an ironic twist, the leader of the KKK (Nathan Bedford) eventually tried to disband the original Klan. This was due to the fact that it had become impossible to keep under control. He said that the group had become less “honorable” and “patriotic” but instead executing a deliberate and excessive amount of violence and terror. Bedford -
The 2nd KKK was founded
The Klan experienced a resurgence during and after WW1. The Klan was portrayed as being a gallant and heroic group. This group started to get involved with politics.
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Brown v. Board of Education
Supreme Court case that overturned the 'separate but equal' approach to public schooling. Segregated schools, as well as public restrooms and transportation, drinking fountains and restaurants, came about as the result of Jim Crow laws.
Brown v Board of Education -
Special Privilages
At the beginning of the 60’s, Klan violence had general immunity from arrest, prosecution, and conviction.
Backfire -
President Kennedy's Predicament
President Kennedy did not have a plan for civil rights, he believed discrimination was wrong and that it would change over time. The Constitution stated that it was up to the states to deal with racial issues. The Federal Government had no power to police the South. The pressure from the Civil Rights movement in the south and the violence of the Klan the President was forced to become involved.
[Backfire](https://market.android.com/details?id=book-ziG-M2q3ckYC0 -
Bob Jones
Summer 1963 Bob Jones asked the Klan to Charter in his home state. He believed everyone one in the nation was organized except the white Protestant people. Blacks had their NAACP, Jews had their groups, Knights of Columbia. The Klan gave the poor white people hope for not being at the bottom and that their rights matter as well.
KKK Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights -
KKK North Carolina
North Carolina did not like or want confrontation in their state. Gradual change was not acceptable, black intensified their demands for equality. The Klan steps in and tells the people that they are the only ones who can and will stand of for the white man. Klans gathered and invited white people to come together all over the state, this was a families days out kind of like a fair.The Klan was the “nice guys”
[KKK Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights -
KKK North Carolina Rally's at night
As darkness fell, the tone of the rallies fell as well. The white speakers talked about how they are going to fight and stand up for their rights and not let anyone walk all over them any more, they used the bible to explain their actions. At the end “The Old Rugged Cross” was played while they burned a cross.
KKK Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights -
KKK Non Violent
Jones has turned his organization into a 10,000 dues paying members. He did this promoting no acts of violence. His thoughts were to have a huge voting power and not let anyone into office without their support. -
KKK Attacks Around the South
Evers was a civil rights activist and field secretary for the NAACP.
June 12, 1963 Evers was shot in the back while walking up to his house. 1964 Bryon De La Beckwith was arrested and tried twice, however, the all-white juries remained deadlocked. After his release Beckwith was reported to have been bragging about the murder at a Klan rally. 1994 Byron De La Beckwith was convicted of murdering Evers and was sentenced to life imprisonment. -
KKK attacks around the South
Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. (Burt) Three weeks after Martin Luther King Jr gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Four Klan members Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr., Herman Frank Cash, Robert Edward Chambliss and Bobby Frank Cherry- used 15 sticks of dynamite underneath the church's front steps Four girls died several others injured
This was one of many events that prompted President Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -
16th St Baptish Church Cont.
No charges were made until 1977
Robert Chambliss was charged with 1st degree murder of Denise McNair
Blanton and Cherry were later convicted in 2001 and 2002 and sentenced to life in prison. -
Public Accommodation Act of 1964 and the 1965 Voting Rights Act
With the civil rights movement and the explosions of the Klan, helped bring about the Public Accommodation Act of 1964 and the 1965 Voting Rights Act
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Other KKK attacks in the south
Schwener and Chaney were from Mississippi working to register blacks to vote, opening “Freedom Schools” and organizing black boycotts of white businesses. 1st FBI office was placed in MIssissippi was opened and the military bused sailors into the county to help search for Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner. -
Klansville not like other Klans in the South
Because the Klan was not causing any harm the government didn’t have any issues with the Klan. They had the right to free speech just like everyone else. Their favorite and most used form of intimidation was the cross burning. Even though Jones Klan was not violent, other Klans in the south were more forthcoming and took action for their believes. Jones knew that violence would cause the federal government to step in and take everything the Jones has work so hard to do and keep. -
Street Walks
Jones used street walks during the day through the towns to show that his Klan had nothing to hide. This could have also been a form of a scare tactic towards the black man. Up till 1965 the town walks were peaceful, however, the black were not going to stand for it any longer. Aug 21st the walkers approached a black neighborhood, the blacks started to yell and cause issues towards the Klan members. -
Murder of Viola Liuzzo
After the murder of Mrs. Liuzzo by three clans members, President Johnson announced over the radio that the Klan was disloyal to the nation and declared war on the Klan. Wallace (Grand Dragon) also felt things have gone too far. “Life simply should not be that cheap.”
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Turning Point for the North Carolina Klan
May 1965 Jones had another rally and invited the three men who killed the civil rights woman. This event was the first time people got to see the Klan up close and personnel for the first time. (Aired on television) Unfortunately the organization was condoning murder for their cause. The FBI had no intentions of dismantling the Klan
The FBI infiltrated the Klan and had some informants to help them. (Dorset) -
Burning of membership cards
the members stapled their membership to a cross and set it on fire. The Klan went into darkness after these events -
HUAC hearing
Oct 1965 The House American Activities Committee had opened investigation on the Klan. Jones was asked about personal bank accounts and other personal belongings that was bought with Klan money. Klan members got really upset with the leaders invoking the 5th. This was a form of communist and a form of guilt. Members of Jones Klan started to leave, there was not faith in his group. 1969 Jones was convicted for failing to provide records and sent to prison for 1 year.
