The Ku Klux Klan essays

The Ku Klux Klan essays The Ku Klux Klan is a very widely known group that have caused such a commotion since theyre uprising that they will never be forgotten. The Klan has affected the lives of thousands of people throughout history. Even in todays society the Klan is active and holding regular meetings within the parameters set by the law. The Klan has willingly violated people in ways that no one should have to experience. The Ku Klux Klan was formed as a social club by a group of Confederate Army veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee around 1865. (IKA) A General for the Confederate Army, Nathan Bedford Forrest became the Klans first leader. He was titled the Grand Wizard. The group adopted the name Ku Klux Klan from the Greek word kuklos, meaning circle, and the English word clan. (IKA) The Reconstruction Klan philosophized white superiority and white supremacy. In the early stages of the Klan they started out playing jokes on each other and pretending to be ghosts of the late confederate soldiers. The origin of the flag the Klan represented originated from the historic symbol X for St. Andrews cross dating back to early Christian history. The design stood for the lofty principles of personal freedom, states rights and a small constitutional government. The burning of the cross is an old tradition. The cross stands for sacrifice, service, and a sign of the Christian religion. By lighting the cros s on fire the Klan thought it was putting Christ in the light of the world. The history of the burning cross is of Scottish descent. Klan members thought that by burning Calvarys cross they were cleansing and purifying their virtues and burning out their vices from the fire of His word. The Klan started exercising their superiority by terrorizing blacks. The Klan detested the notion of blacks gaining any rights following the Civil War. The period after the Civil War was also kno...