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The First Ku Klux Klan was founded (Lasted until the 1870's)
The Ku Klux Klan was the direct result of the aftermath of the American Civil war. The Southern states were completely devastated, as without human labour, they had no one to tend to their farms, causing their economy to collapse. The KKK was created with the original purpose of organising and managing a resistance against Reconstruction-era policies, which were designed to establish political and economic equality for African Americans. They rebelled against federal troops enforcing civil law. -
A meeting was held to tabulate rules and the organisational structure of the KKK
At the meeting, a former confederate General named Nathan Bedford Forrest was elected the Ku Klux Klan's original leader, gaining the title “Imperial Wizard”. -
Nathan Bedford Forrest attempted to disband the original KKK (Date is Approximate)
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 “honourable” and “patriotic” but instead executing a deliberate and excessive amount of violence and terror. -
Federal Grand Jury declares the Klan a terrorist organisation
After a federal Jury ruling, the KKK was deemed a terrorist organisation. Many Klan members were persecuted, forcing members to run from the authorities. However, the costumes worn by Klan members were very concealing, therefore many arrests for violence could not be made due to a lack of identification. The "Third Ku Klux Klan" act further combated the strength of the KKK. -
The Second KKK was Founded (Lasted until approximately 1944)
Approximately 40 years after the original group lost popularity, the KKK experienced a resurgence during and after World War One. The book “The Clansman” By Thomas Dixon Jr (Pub. 1905) also provided the ideology which helped the revival of the KKK, which portrays the Klan as being a gallant and heroic group. -
Women of the KKK was formed (WKKK)
The early 1900s consisted of number of movements where American women were included in certain activities which were previously deemed only fit for men. Women wanted to support their men in their conquest for white supremacy. Therefore wives, daughters and mothers of klan members formed the "Women of the Ku Klux Klan" (WKKK). -
Individual Klan groups target Civil Rights Movement (Date is Approximate)
The civil rights movement during the 1950s was a period when African-Americans were pushing for their rights. The KKK was extremely against this, and thus enacted a large amount of terror and violence to scare those who wanted racial equality. -
The Third/Modern KKK was formed. (Still active today)
The third generation of the KKK came back as a strong racist and anti-communist community. It strongly opposed the civil-rights movement, and currently has around 8,000 members (Compared to the second klan's 6,000,000).
