The Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan is one of the most notorious white supremacist groups in the world. It was initially founded in 1867 in the wake of the American Civil War, and its ideology has always had close ties with the myth of a prosperous Confederate state as a result. However, it is best known for the shockingly vicious acts of violence which have been committed by its members over the years, with the result that the distinctive hooded robes its members wear to conceal their identities have become a globally-recognized symbol of racial prejudice and bigotry.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments in the Ku Klux Klan’s history, including William J. Simmons’ revival of the organisation in 1915, the resulting internal power struggles and the legal scandals which eventually led to its decline. It also features an overview of key members of the KKK throughout its history, an introduction to its internal structure and a discussion of the organisation’s most significant clashes with the law, giving you all the essential information about this infamous hate group.

About the Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee by six friends who had just returned from fighting in the American Civil War and wanted to find a way of staving off boredom. Its popularity grew, although it was disbanded a mere four years later when its leader, Nathan Bedford Forrest, grew concerned that the racially-motivated violence committed by the group was spiralling out of control. It has been revived many times during the intervening years, notably in 1915 by William Joseph Simmons, when its popularity engulfed the United States and its influence even seeped into the political sphere. Although the KKK has been reduced to operating in localized cells in recent years, the atrocities committed by the group in the name of white supremacy have been seared into the collective memory of both the United States of America and the global community.

This clear and accessible 76-page book is structured as follows:

• The Ku Klux Klan
  • Key information
  • Introduction
• The changing face of the KKK
  • The origins of the KKK
  • The film that triggered the rebirth of the KKK
  • The KKK today
• Notable members
  • Nathan Bedford Forrest, the first Grand Wizard of the KKK
  • William Joseph Simmons, the founder of the second KKK
  • Hiram Wesley Evans, the Imperial Assistant
  • David Duke, the founder of the Knights of the KKK
• Aims and operations of the KKK
  • Organisational structure
  • Operations
• Controversies
  • The Daniel and Richards affair
  • Edward Clarke’s clashes with the law
  • The Stephenson trial
  • Taking down the Confederate flag in South Carolina
• Summary