Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan began as a secret organisation in 1866 (following the end of the Civil War), in Tennessee, but shortly developed into sort of a warden group, mainly focusing on counteracting the Reconstruction. The members were younger men of the middle class. Dressed up in white menacing clothing with accompaying hats and masks, the Klan harassed, intimidated and murdered many- and mostly- African Americans.

Because of the Enforcement Acts in the 1870's (the federal office's attempts to stop violent Klan activity), the Klan much disappeared. However, in 1920's, it had a comeback, this time spreading to the rest of the United States. Now, it was not only anti-African American but also anti-Semitic as well as anti-Catholic. In 1925, it reached appr. four million members but got weaker once more due to the Secon World War. Post-war, it grew bigger for a third time in the 50's, then targeting civil rights activists as well as their white sympathesizers.