Formation of the Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux
Following the end of the Civil War, young confederate-veterans began dressing in disguise and tormenting the freedmen in the area of Pulaski, Tennessee. Their antics quickly spread throughout the south as a form of controlling and intimidating blacks and republicans, and these men became known as the Ku Klux Klan. This is noted in Tougee’s A Fool’s Errand when one of the black characters addresses “Mars Kunnel” about the KKK, stating: “…dem folks what rides about at night a-pesterin’ pore colored people, an’ a-pertendin’ tu be jes from hell, or some of de battle-fields ob ole Virginny”[1]. Nathan Bedford Forest, a former Confederate general and slave trader, was the Ku Klux Klan’s first Imperial Wizard. This essay will weigh the evidence supported by the traditional view, that is, the Ku Klux Klan was an organization of white Southerners who resisted reconstruction and halted the northern encroachment. This traditional view can also be asserted as a racist view. The other popular view is called the revisionist view, and it deems the Ku Klux Klan a violent and disrespectful organization set on overthrowing the rule of Negros, scalawags, and carpetbaggers. This essay will look at the horrific acts committed by the Klan during the period of reconstruction, question the morality of such acts, and conclude that it is certain that the Ku Klux Klan was in a terrorist organization which hindered social and political integration: that if these evil men had let congress win the new south would have been a better place. In 1866, congress was battling with President Johnson over reconstruction policies, and congress was winning. The 10 per-cent policy and admittance of state governments comprised of former confederates made some think the war was fought in vain. The “Black Codes”, which were enacted to suppress black, had been struck down by the Radical Republicans. The radicals believed they should not accept the enemy back as “prodigal sons”. With
Following the end of the Civil War, young confederate-veterans began dressing in disguise and tormenting the freedmen in the area of Pulaski, Tennessee. Their antics quickly spread throughout the south as a form of controlling and intimidating blacks and republicans, and these men became known as the Ku Klux Klan. This is noted in Tougee’s A Fool’s Errand when one of the black characters addresses “Mars Kunnel” about the KKK, stating: “…dem folks what rides about at night a-pesterin’ pore colored people, an’ a-pertendin’ tu be jes from hell, or some of de battle-fields ob ole Virginny”[1]. Nathan Bedford Forest, a former Confederate general and slave trader, was the Ku Klux Klan’s first Imperial Wizard. This essay will weigh the evidence supported by the traditional view, that is, the Ku Klux Klan was an organization of white Southerners who resisted reconstruction and halted the northern encroachment. This traditional view can also be asserted as a racist view. The other popular view is called the revisionist view, and it deems the Ku Klux Klan a violent and disrespectful organization set on overthrowing the rule of Negros, scalawags, and carpetbaggers. This essay will look at the horrific acts committed by the Klan during the period of reconstruction, question the morality of such acts, and conclude that it is certain that the Ku Klux Klan was in a terrorist organization which hindered social and political integration: that if these evil men had let congress win the new south would have been a better place. In 1866, congress was battling with President Johnson over reconstruction policies, and congress was winning. The 10 per-cent policy and admittance of state governments comprised of former confederates made some think the war was fought in vain. The “Black Codes”, which were enacted to suppress black, had been struck down by the Radical Republicans. The radicals believed they should not accept the enemy back as “prodigal sons”. With
References: Du Bois, W.E.B. (1901). “The freedmen’s bureau”. The Atlantic Monthly, Vol 87. p. 361-362. Houghton, Mifflin, and Company. Du Bois, W.E.B. (1904). The Souls of Black Folk. Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Company. Print. Leland, John. (1879). A Voice from South Carolina. South Carolina: Walker, Evans, & Cogwell. Web. Librarian of Congress. (1873). American Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important events of the year 1872, Vol 12. New York: D. Appleton & Company. Web. Tourgee, Albion. (1879). A Fool’s Errand. New York: Fords, Howard & Hulbert. Woodson, Carter. (1964). The Journal of Negro History, Vol 49. [2] DuBois, W.E.B. (1901) The Atlantic Monthly, Vol 87, p. 362 [3] Grant, U.S [4] Neiwart, David. (2009). “The Eliminationists”. p. 168. [5] Leland, John. (1879). Pgs. 63-64. [6] Index to the Reports of the Committees of the Senate Session of 42nd congress. Testimony of Emanuel Fortune (1871). [9] DuBois, W.E.B. (1904). The Souls of Black Folk. p. 28 [10] Woodson, The Journal of Negro History, Vol 49, p.41 [11] DuBois, W.E.B. (1901) The Atlantic Monthly, Vol 87, p.361 [12] Drago, Edmund L [13] Drago, Edmund L. (1992). Page 90. [15] Tourgee, Albion. (1879) A Fool’s Errand. Pg. 403