Ku Klux Klan: Its Origin, Growth and DisbandmentThe KKK's early history from its formation to its first disbandment is revealed with astonishing detail - writing in 1905, the author includes eyewitness accounts from those alive at the time. Following the American Civil War, the emancipation of black Americans occurred - the peoples formerly owned by plantation owners and farmers were accorded freedom, citizenship and rights as citizens of the United States. However, a segment of the population were unhappy with the emancipation of the enslaved - a desire for white domination led many, particularly in the Deep South, to perpetrate violence, mischief and murder. In the southern states, six former officers of the Confederate States of America formed the Ku Klux Klan. Intentionally shrouding the initiation ceremonies, doctrines and customs in mystery, the group was formed to amuse its members and attract public curiosity. Only later, as the group gained in membership and perpetrated violent and murderous acts, did their white hoods and rituals acquire notoriety and become synonymous with white supremacy and menace against the black minority. This book details the formation and progress of the 1st Klan, which operated between the years 1865 and 1871. Authored in 1905, it benefits from eyewitness accounts; at the time, the KKK's first appearance was within living memory, thought a curious event firmly confined to the past. However, a decade after Fleming published this book the KKK was revived, becoming far larger than before. Although overshadowed by later events, histories such as Fleming's shed light on an era of upheaval. Backlash against emancipation was anticipated, and the KKK was not the only extra-judicial group of its kind; although such organizations successfully intimidated many blacks into departing politics, laws and crackdowns by the government contained the organization, albeit temporarily. |
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... . Revised and Amended Pre- script of Ku Klux Klan . Appendix III . Constitution of a Local Order . 177 Appendix IV . Ku Klux Orders , Warnings , and Oaths .. Index 187 . 199 ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Badge worn by high officials of the Klan.
... Constitutions of the order have come to light , and the ex - members are now generally willing to tell all they know about the organization . As yet , no other member has written an account of the Klan , though several have been pro ...
... Constitutional Union Guards , and one , the Knights of the White Cam- elia , 1 that was larger than the Klan ... Constitution and Ritual of the Knights of the White Camelia have been printed in West Virginia University Documents ...
... Constitution was found defective and in 1868 the Revised and Amended Prescript was adopted . Who framed it we do not know , but it is known how it was printed . Frank O. McCord , one of the founders of the Pulaski Circle , was editor of ...
... Constitution ; the constitutional laws thereof ; and the union of States . thereunder . " If these men were plotting treason , it puzzles us to know why they should make such a statement as that in set- ting forth the principles of the ...