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The Ku Klux Klan



             White Southerners had no rights due to the Reconstruction Act and freed African Americans had full rights of citizenship. This led to African Americans rule, which was enforced by Union militias. So the KKK needed to organize itself to be able to do anything against this oppression. The KKK sought Robert E. Lee to head their organization but because of Lee's age and poor health he declined and suggested Nathan Bedford Forrest instead. Lee agreed to support the KKK though as long as it was behind the scenes. .
             Forrest accepted the office of Grand Wizard in April 1867 at a convention in Nashville, TN. John B. Gordon wrote the rules, called Prescripts, for the KKK and also became Grand Dragon, state leader, of Georgia. Under the leadership of Forrest the KKK began to take shape with many Ex-Confederate soldiers and generals forming the ranks. These "non-citizens" couldn't afford to have their names revealed so they all took vows of secrecy. But these vows made it near impossible to tell if the KKK committed a crime or it was another anti-Reconstruction group or some people trying to make people hate the KKK. Most crimes credited to the KKK were actually committed by other organizations. .
             As a result of these crimes the KKK and other resistance groups were declared outlaws. The KKK also had trials before they killed someone and the victim was given someone to speak on their behalf. The KKK also gave money to war widows and orphans. The KKK usually only attacked people guilty of serious crimes and would leave hints to minor offenders who, if they didn't change their ways would be attacked too. .
             Another fact that many people today don't realize is that many Ex-Union whites moved to the South, and when they saw the horrible conditions of the South, they either joined or supported the KKK. Many other whites joined with the KKK to get rid of the corrupt whites even though they didn't support all of the KKK's goals.


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