Ku Klux Klan: Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment

Front Cover
Neale Publishing Company, 1905 - History - 198 pages

The 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

Contents

I
17
II
49
IV
70
V
85

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 157 - THIS is an institution of Chivalry, Humanity, Mercy, and Patriotism; embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans...
Page 157 - Third : To aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.
Page 137 - Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again. What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon...
Page 130 - Governor to take the seat in the United States Senate to which he had been elected.
Page 137 - Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous, and we fools of nature, So horridly to shake our disposition, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls ? Say, why is this ? wherefore ? what should we do ? [Ghost beckons HAMLET.
Page 88 - Grand Wizard of the Empire and his ten Genii; a Grand Dragon of the Realm and his eight Hydras; a Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six Furies; a Grand Giant of the Province and his four Goblins; a Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two Night Hawks; a Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a Grand Exchequer, a Grand Turk, a Grand Scribe, A Grand Sentinel, and a Grand Ensign. Sec. 2. The body politic of this * shall be designated and known as 'Ghouls,
Page 167 - ... aforesaid. The Grand Wizard of the Empire is hereby created, to serve three years from the First Monday in May, 1867, after the expiration of which time, biennial elections shall be held for that office as aforesaid. And the incumbent Grand Wizard shall notify the Grand Dragons, at least six months before said election, at what time and place the same will be held.
Page 140 - Titan who is the Chief Officer of the Dominion, to report to the Grand Dragon when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the * within his Dominion, and to transmit through the Grand Giants to the subordinate *s of his Dominion, all information or intelligence conveyed to him by the Grand Dragon for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the interests of the * . He shall keep, by his G.
Page 100 - If a dipper or gourd was brought it was declined, and the bucket full of water demanded. As if consumed by raging thirst the horseman grasped it and pressed it to his lips. He held it there till every drop of the water was poured into a gum or oiled sack concealed beneath the Ku Klux robe. Then the empty bucket was returned to the amazed negro with the remark: "That's good. It is the first drink of water I have had since I was killed at Shiloh.
Page 142 - Genii, also a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his department, and to appoint and ordain Special Deputy Grand Wizards to assist him in the more rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of *s throughout his Empire.

Bibliographic information