Answer

• Terrorism and Homeland Security

  History of the Ku Klux Klan

              The Ku Klux Klan, also known as KKK, is a terrorist group that spread fast across the Southern state in history. It acted as a tool that was used for the resistance by the Whites to the Republican Party’s reconstruction policies. These policies had the main goal of introducing political and economic equality for people of color within the United States. Hence, the members of the KKK worked on an underground campaign meant to intimidate and use violence against the white and Black Republican leaders. These individuals were perceived as being an obstacle to what the KKK wanted to achieve. Hence, congress passed legislation that illegalized the KKK activities. This was not the end of the group, as years later, protestant nativists revived the Klan. The historical background in the development of the KKK will be analyzed. It will include a highlight of the different waves of the KKK that have been experienced.

  KKK Historical Background and Waves of Revival

              The first branch of the KKK was founded by a group of former Confederate veterans in 1865. It was then considered as a social group whereby members would meet to discuss how they would establish their invisible empire in the South (Taylor & Swanson, 2018). This organization of the KKK took place at the same time as the start of the second phase of post-Civil War Reconstruction (Hodge, 2016). This reconstruction was being advocated for by the radical participants of the Republican Party. The lenient reconstruction policies put in place by President Andrew Johnson from 1865-1866 was rejected as the congress passed the latest Reconstruction Act (Taylor & Swanson, 2018). It saw to it that the South was split into five military districts, whereby each one was expected to approve the 14^th Amendment that granted equal protection to former slaves.

              From 1867, the participation of African-Americans in the south became evident. Many won elections within the southern state government, as well as within the U.S Congress. However, as a form of retaliation, the KKK dedicated its energy to violent campaigns against all supporters of the republican. They targeted both white and Black supporters as they attempted to reverse the radical Reconstruction policies. All Republican institutions including schools were also targeted. By 1870, almost all southern states featured a KKK branch (Taylor & Swanson, 2018). They flourished in the Southern parts because of the low number of Black Americans in the region (Hodge, 2016). As the group flourished, the Republican state governments sought the assistance of Congress. This led to three Enforcement acts including the KKK Act of 1871. This Act saw to it that specific actions would be considered a federal offense. Besides, federal forces were sent out to suppress the constantly increasing violence (Taylor & Swanson, 2018). However, the federal authority paved way for white supremacy in the region, even though the Klan was overpowered.

              A second generation of the Klan was experienced in 1915. It was not only against Black people but also against the Roman Catholics, Jews, foreigners, and even organized labor (Hodge, 2016). The surge in immigration triggered its occurrence as nativists feared a revolution. Its peak featured about 4 million members countrywide (Taylor & Swanson, 2018). However, the Great Depression depleted its power once again, which led to another fall in 1944. In the 1960s, another surge of Klan activity was experienced once again. It included bombing, the shooting of Blacks and their white supporters, and even beatings all of which took place in secret. AS leaders started condemning their actions and following through to seek justice, the Klan activities slowly diminished.

   

   

  Conclusion

              Overall, the KKK has experienced a series of waves ever since it was first founded. As government officials came to realize the harm that it caused in society, many decided to quit rather than face jail time. The Klan is basically composed of natives who are still trying to rebel and act against immigrants in their countries at all costs.