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Ku Klux Klan

American white supremacist hate group

The Ku Klux Klan, known as the KKK, is a far-right terrorist organization targeting African Americans, Jews, and Catholics. It has had three separate iterations, advocating extremist views and committing violent acts. The Klan has a history of white nationalism, antisemitism, and anti-Catholicism, with membership in the millions at its peak in the 1920s. The KKK continues to promote hate and violence, with current membership estimates around 3,000 to 6,000 members.

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Timeline

Formation of the Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee, by six former Confederate soldiers. It started as a social club but soon turned into a violent racist organization targeting African Americans.

Establishment of the original Klan

The First Reign of Incarnation and Incantation was the period between the American Revolutionary War and the establishment of the original Klan on May 6, 1866.

Passage of Military Reconstruction Acts

In March 1867, the Military Reconstruction Acts were passed, leading to the Klan's transformation into a political organization. This legislation paved the way for freedmen to vote in the South, prompting the Klan to focus on political goals such as defeating the Republican Party.

Adoption of the original prescript of the Ku Klux Klan

The original prescript of the Ku Klux Klan was officially adopted during a convention in Nashville, Tennessee in April 1867.

George Ashburn Murdered in Columbus, Georgia

On March 31, 1868, Republican organizer George Ashburn was murdered in Columbus, Georgia, marking the beginning of the Klan's organized terrorism. This event sparked a wave of violence and intimidation targeted at Black voters and white supporters of the Republican Party.

Supreme Cyclopean Council Arrest

On April 6, 1868, a group of twenty men in Memphis, known as the Supreme Cyclopean Council, was arrested for openly advocating assassination of the ruling authorities in the South. The organization had a Grand Cyclops, Vice-Grand Cyclops, and Secretary.

Klan Activity in South Carolina

In January 1871, 500 masked men attacked the Union county jail in South Carolina and lynched eight Black prisoners, showcasing the violent activities of the Ku Klux Klan in the region.

Dissolution of the Klan by Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest

The Reign of the Second Incarnation and Incantation of the Klan was reckoned between 1866 and 1872, when Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest dissolved the Klan.

The Invisible Empire

The Invisible Empire is a book written by Albion Tourgee in 1880. It discusses the Ku Klux Klan and its impact during the Reconstruction era.

Adaptation of 'The Clansman' into a Play

In 1905, Thomas Dixon Jr. adapted his second Ku Klux Klan novel, 'The Clansman,' into a play. The novel introduced the burning cross as a symbol for the Ku Klux Klan.

The Ku Klux Klan in The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association

An article written by W. D. Wood in April 1906, discussing the history and impact of the Ku Klux Klan. It provides insights into the activities and influence of this white supremacist group.

Ceremony of initiation and rituals of the Ku Klux Klan

The rituals and ceremony of initiation of the Ku Klux Klan were influenced by antebellum college fraternities and secret societies such as the Kuklos Adelphon. The Klan rituals were also inspired by other orders like the Sons of Malta and Sons of Confucius, as mentioned by J.C. Lester and Walter L. Fleming.

Premiere of The Birth of a Nation movie

The D.W. Griffith movie, later titled The Birth of a Nation, premiered in a Los Angeles theater in February 1915. The film, although progressive in technique, glorified the Ku Klux Klan, leading to riots and bloodshed nationwide.

Draft Dodging Incident in Birmingham

In May 1918, a middle-aged African-American man was arrested for draft dodging in Birmingham after returning to persuade his white teenage girlfriend to marry him. A Bureau agent intervened to protect the man from a potential lynching by the local KKK.

Abduction Concerns of Knights of Labor Leader

In June 1918, a Bureau agent in Mobile named G.C. Outlaw addressed the concerns of Ed Rhone, the leader of the Knights of Labor, regarding the abduction of another labor leader by reputed Klansmen. This incident highlighted the impact of Ku Klux Klan activities on labor organizations.

Ceasefire of World War I and Rise of KKK

Following the ceasefire of World War I in November 1918, pro-war oriented Klan groups shifted focus to racial and religious prejudice. This transition marked the beginning of a rapid rise in KKK membership in the 1920s under the leadership of William Simmons and Edward Young Clarke.

Arrest of Edward Y. Clarke and Mary Elizabeth Tyler

In 1919, Atlanta-based publicists Edward Y. Clarke and Mary Elizabeth Tyler, who were instrumental in the Klan's rise, were arrested for sexual impropriety and possession of illegal alcohol, contradicting the organization's claimed morality.

Governor John M. Parker requests assistance in investigating Ku-Klux matters in northern Louisiana

Governor John M. Parker of Louisiana seeks help from the Bureau in investigating Ku-Klux matters in northern Louisiana due to interference by the Klan in communication channels and suspicious deaths of two white men in Mer Rouge.

FBI Agents Targeted by Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana

In November 1922, FBI agents investigating Klan-related crimes in Louisiana were targeted by klansmen and their allies. The agents' lives were in danger, and they had to leave the area to avoid being arrested or harmed.

Klan Mass Rally in Kokomo

Approximately 200,000 Klansmen, women, and children gathered in Kokomo, Indiana, for a mass rally on July 4, 1923.

Ku Klux Klan Influence in Illinois Elections

In 1924, the Ku Klux Klan exerted significant influence in Illinois elections, with Governor Len Small being elected with Klan support. The Klan held large-scale events at the state fairgrounds, including an initiation ceremony for thousands of new members. Charles G. Palmer, the 'grand dragon' of the Illinois Klan, claimed that the organization controlled elections and had considerable power in the state.

Ku Klux Klan March on Pennsylvania Avenue

Tens of thousands of uniformed Ku Klux Klan members march down Pennsylvania Avenue in broad daylight, marking the height of Ku Klux Klan membership in America, with some estimates being as high as 3 million people.

David Bibb Graves becomes Grand Cyclops of Montgomery chapter

In 1927, David Bibb Graves became the Grand Cyclops of the Montgomery chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, serving as the leader of the local group.

Decline of the Ku Klux Klan

By 1930, the Ku Klux Klan was on the verge of collapse due to internal conflicts, scandals, and accusations of financial misconduct. The organization's violent and abusive practices led to its diminishing influence and power.

Dissolution of Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc.

In 1944, the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc. was dissolved, leading to the emergence of various Klan groups with different nomenclature and leadership titles.

Robert C. Byrd's Letter to Klan

In 1946, Robert C. Byrd wrote a letter to the Ku Klux Klan's Imperial Wizard expressing his support for the organization and the need for its revival in West Virginia.

Samuel Green becomes briefly Imperial Wizard of the reorganized Klan

Samuel Green briefly held the position of Imperial Wizard in a reorganized Klan in 1949 but tragically passed away from a heart attack shortly after his election.

Harry and Harriet Moore Murder

On Christmas Eve, members of the Ku Klux Klan firebomb the home of NAACP Florida executive director Harry Tyson Moore and his wife, Harriet, resulting in their deaths. This event marks the first high-profile Southern Klan killings during the 1950s.

Robert C. Byrd's Defense of Klan Membership

In 1958, during his U.S. Senate campaign, Robert C. Byrd tried to explain or justify his past membership in the Ku Klux Klan when he was 41 years old.

16th Street Baptist Church Bombing

In Birmingham, Alabama, members of the Ku Klux Klan bomb the predominantly Black 16th Street Baptist Church, leading to the tragic deaths of four little girls. This heinous act highlights the racial tensions and violence prevalent during the Civil Rights Movement.

Opening of FBI Office in Mississippi

After the July 4 holiday, FBI agent Moore reported to Jackson to announce the formal opening of the office in a rented downtown bank building as part of a psychological operation against the KKK in the state.

President Johnson Condemns the Klan

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson publicly condemned the Ku Klux Klan and announced the arrest of four Klansmen in connection with the murder of a white female civil rights worker in Alabama, marking a significant moment in the fight against Klan-related violence.

White Terror: The Ku Klux Klan Conspiracy and Southern Reconstruction

White Terror: The Ku Klux Klan Conspiracy and Southern Reconstruction is a book written by Allen W. Trelease in 1971. It explores the Ku Klux Klan's activities during the Reconstruction period.

Illinois State Investigation into Klan Involvement

In 1976, Illinois newspapers and a state investigation revealed that members of the Ku Klux Klan were found in various government positions in Illinois, including a legislator, the governor's secretary, highway department employees, the assistant secretary of the Senate, and fairground workers. Despite claims by Klansmen that they helped re-elect Governor Small, he denied being a member.

Publication of 'Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Ku Klux Klan'

The book 'Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Ku Klux Klan' by Nancy MacLean was published in 1994, exploring the history and formation of the Second Ku Klux Klan.

True Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bombing Plot in Texas

In 1997, members of the True Knights of the Ku Klux Klan planned to bomb a natural gas processing facility in north Texas to cause mass casualties and distract law enforcement for a robbery. The plot involved detonating a second bomb to aid in the robbery and raise funds for a war against the U.S. government.

Robert C. Byrd's Controversial Statement

In a 2001 interview, Robert C. Byrd used the term 'white niggers' on national television, sparking controversy and later apologizing for the phrase.

Publication of 'The Invisible Empire in the West: Toward a New Historical Appraisal of the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s'

The book 'The Invisible Empire in the West: Toward a New Historical Appraisal of the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s' edited by Shawn Lay was published in 2004 by University of Illinois Press.

Publication of 'One Hundred Percent American: The Rebirth and Decline of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s'

The book 'One Hundred Percent American: The Rebirth and Decline of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s' by Thomas R. Pegram was published in 2011, focusing on the resurgence and eventual decline of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.

Rise of White Supremacism in American Politics

In January 25, 2017, white supremacism was noted to be on the rise in American politics. The Ku Klux Klan's support for Donald Trump, David Duke's bid for the Louisiana Senate, and the appointment of Steve Bannon, associated with white supremacists, in the White House were highlighted.

White Supremacist Involvement in American Politics

On July 17, 2019, white supremacist activities in American politics were mentioned. The history of white nationalists being connected to American politics, including the Klan's involvement in the 1920s, was discussed.

End of the Timeline
Ku Klux Klan

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