the Klux Clan or KKK is deeply rooted in the post Civil War History of the United States they are three of the most familiar words and letters in almost any language synonymous with hatred intimidation and murder the clan had three Evolutions in its history as it evolved and altered its methods tactics and expanded its focus all three movements have called for the the purification of American society during each period of the Clan's existence the official membership was secret and estimates of the total numbers of members was unknown and they were highly exaggerated by both friends
and enemies alike the first Clan was founded in palaski Tennessee on December 24th 1865 by six former officers of the Confederate Army they were Frank McCord Richard Reid John Lester John Kennedy Jay Calvin Jones and J James Crow it started innocuously as a fraternal Social Club inspired at least in part by the then largely defunct sons of Malta perceived as an offshoot combined of the old Knights Templar and tonic Knights the KKK adopted many of the initiation rights and formal ceremonies of those previous organizations with the same purpose of fraternity solidarity and most of all
political power which today in hindsight is laughable as as well as tragic the official KKK manual describing these rituals was printed by laps D mcord of Pulaski tennessy the clan also needed a distinguishing uniform which later in their history would become notorious robes and hence their adopting the Spanish karote Hood former Confederate Brigadier General George Gordon for whom Fort Gordon Georgia was named for developed the prescript which supported the superiority of white society and culture and adopted and taught white supremacist beliefs they created the ranking system and at the top of the KKK was the
Imperial Wizard or the national president below this were the grand Dragons Who governed an individual State called a realm confederate general Nathan Bedford Forest was elected the first Imperial Wizard and stated that he was the Clan's national leader forest was very concerned about the Republican influence growing among the blacks in the south despite its apparently well structured appearance the clan had no membership rosters no named chapters and no listed local officers so it was difficult to judge his membership if you enjoyed this clip and want to see the full episode version click here and it
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