The Ku Klux KlanHate is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury”(Webster 532). Throughout the history of the United States this country has witnessed many kinds of hate and
...o long robes, and added pointed hats and grotesque masks. These outfits became their uniforms that are still used today. The group also came up with names for the head members. The leader became the Grand Cyclops, the leader’s assistant was named the Grand Magi, the host at the door of the meetings became the Grand Turk, the new members were called Ghouls, and the messengers were Night Hawks (Able 30). As the group grew bigger they developed elaborate initiation exercises, made solemn vows and started to hold secret ceremonies. By 1867 this idea took hold and spread fast throughout the South. Many people who felt powerless, victimized, and alienated liked the ideas of the organization, and membership numbers grew drastically. The night rides that they started became more frequent and they began scaring blacks out of town. These intimidating night rides gave direct threats towards blacks. The night rides included activities such as cross burnings, and late night visits to blacks’ homes (Lang 41). These once passive visits took a turn for the worst and became acts of violence. By the end of 1867 all the separate Ku Klux Klan groups joined together for a convention (Lang 41). At this convention they determined their fundamental goal (to reassert white supremacy), and elected the first Imperial Wizard, Nathan Bedford Forrest (Able 31). Violence became a way of like for Klan members and the killing was outrageous. Between 1889 and 1941 over 3,811 blacks were lynched for what the Klan called “crimes”(Lang 42). These so called “crimes” were for example: threatening to sue a Mooneyham 3 white man, attempting to register to vote, joining labor unions, being “disrespectful” to a white man, or even just looking at a white woman (Lang 42). The trend of killing blacks went on for years until finally the Klan’s membership began to decline. In the 1920’s the Klan decided that it was not enough just to hate blacks, so they widened their range of hate. In a desperate effort to increase their numbers, the Klan became not only anti-black, but also anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic, anti-Asian, anti-immigrant, anti-bootlegging, anti-dope, and anti-scandalous (Lang 44). This idea worked and the numbers began rising again. By 1922 the Klan had over 1.2 million members (Lang 44). Before anyone knew what happened, the Ku Klux Klan had become a national phenomenon. By 1925 there were over 6 million members and the Klan was becoming so influential that they even had a few public officials elected in to office (Cook 55). Once again the Ku Klux Klan’s memberships were declining. By 1960, their numbers had dropped from over 6 million to a mere 50,000. These 50,000 members had changed their cause to simply fighting desegregation. Many believe this sudden decline in membership could be linked to several different reasons. Some of these reasons include that the Klan’s public officials were severely ineffective, there were scandals going constantly, and the country was facing a major depression. Not too long after this slump in members, the Klan began to see its end. The leaders of the Klan were being sent to jail, internal competition and rivalries for leadership were ...