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. |
From inside the book
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... Invisible Empire " gives the carpet- bagger's view of the Ku Klux movement , and , though filled with worthless testimony from the Ku Klux Report , it shows a very clear conception of the real meaning of the movement and a correct ...
... Invisible Empire , were obeying the first law of nature and were bound to reveal nothing to injure the cause , just as when Confed- erates under Forrest , Lieutenant - General of the Confederate Army , they were bound not to reveal ...
... Invisible Empire " may be given to the public . Circumstances not neces- sary to detail The Origin.
... Empire . " This was subdivided into " realms " coterminous with the boundaries of States . The " realms " were ... Invisible Empire and his ten Genii . The powers of this officer were almost autocratic . The Grand Dragon of the ...
... Invisible Empire . " In regard to the doings of the Ku Klux two extreme positions have been advocated . On the one hand , it is asserted that the Ku Klux committed no outrages . On the other , that they were the authors of all the ...