Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources:
Bish, Randy. Sterling. 2014. Political Cartoon. Pittsburgh Tribune, Pittsburgh.
This political cartoon opened our eyes to what the Klan is like today. For example, The ex-owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, was banned from the NBA because of his racist comments that were made public in 2014. This cartoon shows a Klansman offering Donald a bag of popcorn saying, “Care for some popcorn, Mr. Sterling? It’s all white.”
Hester, J.G. Ku Klux Costumes in North Carolina. 1870. New York Public Library, New York. New York Public Library. Web. 17 Jan 2015.
We found this still image of the Ku Klux Klan in their costumes, from the first era. This picture shows us what the earlier Ku Klux Klan costumes might have looked like, or how the public saw them in their robes.
The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, 31 Jan. 1865; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The purpose of the 13th Amendment was to abolish slavery except in the case of punishment for a crime where the party has been properly convicted. This was the Government’s first action towards giving African-Americans their full rights as citizens. The Ku Klux Klan continued to build their legacy of hate even though the Government was going against their entire belief system by giving races, other than whites rights.
The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, 16 Jun. 1866; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The 14th Amendment informed us of the citizen rights and equal protection laws after the former slaves became free. Anyone born in the United States are citizens of the U.S. and of the State that they live in. All men’s (no matter what race) votes are worth one instead of ⅗. All former Confederate leaders needed ⅔ majority vote in Congress in order to become full U.S. citizens again. Lastly, everyone is prohibited to pay debts to the Confederate States of America. As African-American men began to gain rights after the Civil War, the Klan started growing and persecuting blacks and whites who supported their entry into society.
The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, 7 Dec. 1868; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The Fifteenth Amendment made it very clear that by the late 1800s, the government was attempting to give more rights to African American men. Congress passed this amendment to allow all citizens of the United States to vote, no matter what their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This obviously would have angered the Klan because of their strong belief that all races should be separate in “god’s eyes.” The leaders of the Klan at this time kept their legacy strong even though everybody, including the government, was against them and their beliefs.
"Ku Klux Klan Meeting." 8x10 inch glass negative, Ca. 1900. National Photo Company Collection.
We found an 8x10 glass plate photograph of a Ku Klux Klan initiation ceremony, which included a ritual cross burning. We chose this photograph for our home page because we felt it showed the intensity of induction into the KKK.
Ku Klux Klan. Letter to Davie Jeems. 1868. Gilder Lehrman Collection. Web.
This threat from the Ku Klux Klan is a prime example of how the Klan intimidated African Americans during the 1800s. Davie Jeems, an African American elected to the Sheriff’s Office in Lincoln County, Georgia, was the target of this threat, but similar threats were sent to other black Republican Officers during this era. The holes and word “Notice” shows that this was likely posted in a public place for all to see. The “ghostly” language and writing in this message shows the Klan’s threatening presence to others. The writers, the Ku Klux Klan, of these threats show how their negative leadership and fear/violence tactics were used towards African Americans who were trying to live the life they deserved.
Nast, Thomas. It is only a truce to regain power (“Playing possum”). 1872. 1 print: wood engraving. Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
This political cartoon displays how the North wanted to “clasp hands” with the South during the Reconstruction era. As the men shake hands, the man from the South (labeled “Ku Klux Klan”) is shown holding weapons behind his back. This implies that the Ku Klux Klan continued their violence regardless of the North’s wish to regain peace throughout the country.
The Obamanation Progressive Fascist. The Ku Klux Klan, LLC, 2009. Print.
This pamphlet informed us on how the Ku Klux Klan feels about President Obama’s presidency. The Klan believes President Obama is the cause for the economic downfall in the United States. They defend themselves by saying that Obama is yet to prove his citizenship as an American. They also make the point that he is only half black, and ask, “why is he the black president, why not the white president?” They list several “accomplishments” that Obama has made since being in office. Some include, prices of everything are going up, the amount of soldiers still in Iraq, and the rising unemployment rate. The Klan recognizes that they are accused of racism in this pamphlet, but they think that they are only telling the truth. One of the section talks about terrorist and how Obama is making groups that practice freedom of speech, such as pro-life, a returning veteran, or believe in the 2nd amendment terrorist organizations. The Klan believes that Obama is setting so many new taxes that soon the United States will become a third world country.
Rogers, Leslie. One Must Be Extinguished. Political Cartoon. The Chicago Defender, Chicago.
This cartoon not only shows the political power that the Klan had during the second era, but also the Klan’s focus on immigration in Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty which is in Ellis Island is being shown next to a member of the Ku Klux Klan holding up “the fiery cross” which reads “race hatred,”
Sykes, Charles H. The Answer. 1921. Political Cartoon. Public Ledger, Philadelphia.
The Klansman in this cartoon is being kicked by Uncle Sam (labeled “True Americanism”) which shows that during this time, the Klan was not accepted by the U.S. government. The Klansman is also carrying a whip and a bucket of tar labeled “terrorism” which implies that the Ku Klux Klan was using tarring-and-feathering as an act of intimidation towards the groups they persecuted during the second era.
Their Christmas Tree. 1922. Political Cartoon. Judge, United States.
This gruesome cartoon illustrates the horrifying truth behind the Ku Klux Klan. It shows a group of klansmen standing under a black man hung from a tree. They watch this lynching with pride, lifting their cross high.
Watson, Fred B. The Creeping Shadow. 1925. Political Cartoon. The Afro-American, Baltimore.
The ghastly shadow displayed in this cartoon (labeled “Segregation”) shows how the Ku Klux Klan began to gain power in some of the northern states during the second era. This was caused by the Klan’s focus on persecuting Catholic and Jewish immigrants near Ellis Island, New York.
Whig, Richmond. One Vote Less. 1872. Political cartoon. Harper’s Weekly, New York City, New York.
“One Vote Less” shows us that after the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were passed, many southern whites showed their resentment through violent acts against African Americans. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan, the White League, and the Red Shirts began using intimidation and violence towards blacks and their white allies. This cartoon shows the belief that killing blacks would give whites more power in the government.
Bish, Randy. Sterling. 2014. Political Cartoon. Pittsburgh Tribune, Pittsburgh.
This political cartoon opened our eyes to what the Klan is like today. For example, The ex-owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, was banned from the NBA because of his racist comments that were made public in 2014. This cartoon shows a Klansman offering Donald a bag of popcorn saying, “Care for some popcorn, Mr. Sterling? It’s all white.”
Hester, J.G. Ku Klux Costumes in North Carolina. 1870. New York Public Library, New York. New York Public Library. Web. 17 Jan 2015.
We found this still image of the Ku Klux Klan in their costumes, from the first era. This picture shows us what the earlier Ku Klux Klan costumes might have looked like, or how the public saw them in their robes.
The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, 31 Jan. 1865; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The purpose of the 13th Amendment was to abolish slavery except in the case of punishment for a crime where the party has been properly convicted. This was the Government’s first action towards giving African-Americans their full rights as citizens. The Ku Klux Klan continued to build their legacy of hate even though the Government was going against their entire belief system by giving races, other than whites rights.
The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, 16 Jun. 1866; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The 14th Amendment informed us of the citizen rights and equal protection laws after the former slaves became free. Anyone born in the United States are citizens of the U.S. and of the State that they live in. All men’s (no matter what race) votes are worth one instead of ⅗. All former Confederate leaders needed ⅔ majority vote in Congress in order to become full U.S. citizens again. Lastly, everyone is prohibited to pay debts to the Confederate States of America. As African-American men began to gain rights after the Civil War, the Klan started growing and persecuting blacks and whites who supported their entry into society.
The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, 7 Dec. 1868; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The Fifteenth Amendment made it very clear that by the late 1800s, the government was attempting to give more rights to African American men. Congress passed this amendment to allow all citizens of the United States to vote, no matter what their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This obviously would have angered the Klan because of their strong belief that all races should be separate in “god’s eyes.” The leaders of the Klan at this time kept their legacy strong even though everybody, including the government, was against them and their beliefs.
"Ku Klux Klan Meeting." 8x10 inch glass negative, Ca. 1900. National Photo Company Collection.
We found an 8x10 glass plate photograph of a Ku Klux Klan initiation ceremony, which included a ritual cross burning. We chose this photograph for our home page because we felt it showed the intensity of induction into the KKK.
Ku Klux Klan. Letter to Davie Jeems. 1868. Gilder Lehrman Collection. Web.
This threat from the Ku Klux Klan is a prime example of how the Klan intimidated African Americans during the 1800s. Davie Jeems, an African American elected to the Sheriff’s Office in Lincoln County, Georgia, was the target of this threat, but similar threats were sent to other black Republican Officers during this era. The holes and word “Notice” shows that this was likely posted in a public place for all to see. The “ghostly” language and writing in this message shows the Klan’s threatening presence to others. The writers, the Ku Klux Klan, of these threats show how their negative leadership and fear/violence tactics were used towards African Americans who were trying to live the life they deserved.
Nast, Thomas. It is only a truce to regain power (“Playing possum”). 1872. 1 print: wood engraving. Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
This political cartoon displays how the North wanted to “clasp hands” with the South during the Reconstruction era. As the men shake hands, the man from the South (labeled “Ku Klux Klan”) is shown holding weapons behind his back. This implies that the Ku Klux Klan continued their violence regardless of the North’s wish to regain peace throughout the country.
The Obamanation Progressive Fascist. The Ku Klux Klan, LLC, 2009. Print.
This pamphlet informed us on how the Ku Klux Klan feels about President Obama’s presidency. The Klan believes President Obama is the cause for the economic downfall in the United States. They defend themselves by saying that Obama is yet to prove his citizenship as an American. They also make the point that he is only half black, and ask, “why is he the black president, why not the white president?” They list several “accomplishments” that Obama has made since being in office. Some include, prices of everything are going up, the amount of soldiers still in Iraq, and the rising unemployment rate. The Klan recognizes that they are accused of racism in this pamphlet, but they think that they are only telling the truth. One of the section talks about terrorist and how Obama is making groups that practice freedom of speech, such as pro-life, a returning veteran, or believe in the 2nd amendment terrorist organizations. The Klan believes that Obama is setting so many new taxes that soon the United States will become a third world country.
Rogers, Leslie. One Must Be Extinguished. Political Cartoon. The Chicago Defender, Chicago.
This cartoon not only shows the political power that the Klan had during the second era, but also the Klan’s focus on immigration in Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty which is in Ellis Island is being shown next to a member of the Ku Klux Klan holding up “the fiery cross” which reads “race hatred,”
Sykes, Charles H. The Answer. 1921. Political Cartoon. Public Ledger, Philadelphia.
The Klansman in this cartoon is being kicked by Uncle Sam (labeled “True Americanism”) which shows that during this time, the Klan was not accepted by the U.S. government. The Klansman is also carrying a whip and a bucket of tar labeled “terrorism” which implies that the Ku Klux Klan was using tarring-and-feathering as an act of intimidation towards the groups they persecuted during the second era.
Their Christmas Tree. 1922. Political Cartoon. Judge, United States.
This gruesome cartoon illustrates the horrifying truth behind the Ku Klux Klan. It shows a group of klansmen standing under a black man hung from a tree. They watch this lynching with pride, lifting their cross high.
Watson, Fred B. The Creeping Shadow. 1925. Political Cartoon. The Afro-American, Baltimore.
The ghastly shadow displayed in this cartoon (labeled “Segregation”) shows how the Ku Klux Klan began to gain power in some of the northern states during the second era. This was caused by the Klan’s focus on persecuting Catholic and Jewish immigrants near Ellis Island, New York.
Whig, Richmond. One Vote Less. 1872. Political cartoon. Harper’s Weekly, New York City, New York.
“One Vote Less” shows us that after the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were passed, many southern whites showed their resentment through violent acts against African Americans. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan, the White League, and the Red Shirts began using intimidation and violence towards blacks and their white allies. This cartoon shows the belief that killing blacks would give whites more power in the government.
Secondary Sources:
“Klaverns.” Extremist Files. Southern Poverty Law Center, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
From this website we were able to see how the public views the Ku Klux Klan. There are more than 40 different groups known as ¨klaverns¨, by the Klan, in the United States. It is estimated that the number of members comes close to 5,000. The most recent spike in Klan action was around 2006 over the topic of gay marriage, which they strongly disagreed with. The Ku Klux Klan is thought to be America’s first true terrorist group, emerging after the Civil War. Over time the Klan added more groups of people to their hate list, when social settings started to change quickly. These groups include homosexuals, Jews, and Catholics. During the early 1990s and early 2000s the Klan was overlooked when more Neo-Nazi groups started to become more active.
"Ku Klux Klan." Extremist Files. Southern Poverty Law Center, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
By reading this source, we became aware of the different people the Ku Klux Klan attacked during their three eras of existence. Their “first era” began December 1865 during the Reconstruction at the end of the Civil War. This era ended after Jim Crow Laws came into play in the South. The second era began during the 1920s and mainly focused on intimidating Catholics and Jews. The third, and final era began during the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. These three eras show the Klan’s continuing legacy of hate against groups they persecuted.
“Ku Klux Klan- History.” Anti-Defamation League. 2013. Print.
From this source we were informed that William Joseph Simmons was the cause of the first revival of the Ku Klux Klan. Simmons had the desire to bring the Klan back after watching D.W. Griffith’s film “The Birth of a Nation.” He was not pleased with all of the other organizations in which he was a member, and he wanted one of his own, so he brought the Klan back. His targets were the catholic and Jewish immigrants that were coming to the United States. As the Klan got larger during this time, they also became more violent, and their image was suffering. By the time the Great Depression struck the Klan had already dissolved.
“Ku Klux Klan.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2012. Print.
By reading this source at the beginning of our research, we learned background about how the public views the Ku Klux Klan, which is in opposition to the way the Klan sees themselves. When the Klan was first assembled in 1865, after the Civil War, they would burn crosses to scare those who were not members of the Klan. They were thought of as a social club in the beginning, but Klan members think of it more as a religion. The Klan often used violence to threaten blacks and whites who supported gaining rights for blacks and other races in the South. The Klan’s goal in the first era was to keep blacks out of politics, but the government passed a law that made the Klan disappear. The second era of the Ku Klux Klan was the largest, but a large majority of the members were not violent. The public reacted so harshly to the era of the second era of the Klan that they once again disappeared.
“Nathan Bedford Forrest.” civilwar.org. Civil War Trust, Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
This biography of Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Ku Klux Klan’s first Grand Wizard taught us about his life and role in the Klan. Forrest was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil War for the Confederate Army. After the War he helped organize the Ku Klux Klan, although later on he attempted to break up the Klan. He failed at this and his title was taken away.
Ross, Janell. "Southern Poverty Law Center Report Finds 'Patriot' Groups Surge As Anti-Obama Fervor Grows." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
By reading this article we learned about the growing number of patriot and hate groups in the United States. Patriot groups are those who are for the confiscation of weapons and are devoted to the overthrow of the federal government. The groups are pushing themselves into the mainstream with their conspiracy theories. The government is receiving lots of threats as the groups are afraid that they are going to get their weapons taken away. These “patriot” groups are now beginning to be seen as hate groups, and are considered to be no better than traditional hate groups. Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of these groups, and today they are at the highest number that the government has ever seen.
United States. National Park Service. "History & Culture." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 04 Feb. 2015. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
This source made it clear to us what the Brown v. Board of Education case was all about. In Kansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, and Virginia cases were brought to the Supreme Court in order to decide on racial segregation in Public Schools. This case gave the Ku Klux Klan the opportunity to gain more members because of the amount of whites who disagreed with desegregation of schools. The leadership of the Klan led them to threaten blacks during the process of desegregation in Public schools.
United States. National Park Service. "We Shall Overcome -- Sixteenth Street Baptist Church." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
The National Parks Service gave us the opportunity to educate ourselves more on the topic of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963. This bombing, which killed four young girls, was led by the Ku Klux Klan in order to intimidate African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. This was just a start to the many violent actions to come from the Ku Klux Klan during the 1960s.
Wormser, Richard. “The Enforcement Acts.” PBS.org. ThirteenWNET New York, 2002.
By reading this website we learned about the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which was created to make any criminal acts that were committed privately a federal crime. President Ulysses Grant sent out federal troops to keep the peace in any places where violence was high. In areas in South Carolina martial law was set and many Klan members were sent to trial in front of mostly black juries. Hundreds of Klansmen were sent to jail, and thousands of others were given fines. By 1872 the Ku Klux Klan act had made the Klan disappear.
Wormser, Richard. “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.” PBS.org. ThirteenWNET New York, 2002.
From this site we gained information about the workings of the early Klan. The Ku Klux Klan used different phrases for specific leaders or members. General Nathan Bedford Forrest was thought to to be the first ¨Grand Wizard¨ or head of the organization. Other leadership positions include Grand Titan, Grand Dragon and Grand Cyclops. “Between 1869 and 1871 its goal was to destroy Congressional Reconstruction by murdering blacks -- and some whites -- who were either active in Republican politics or educating black children.” Many African Americans were killed: many for trying to have political power or for simply, just being African American. A police force created by Republicans was sent out to arrest Klan members. These special forces were most commonly called ¨crack¨ units and they helped put an end to some of the Klan’s activities.
“Klaverns.” Extremist Files. Southern Poverty Law Center, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
From this website we were able to see how the public views the Ku Klux Klan. There are more than 40 different groups known as ¨klaverns¨, by the Klan, in the United States. It is estimated that the number of members comes close to 5,000. The most recent spike in Klan action was around 2006 over the topic of gay marriage, which they strongly disagreed with. The Ku Klux Klan is thought to be America’s first true terrorist group, emerging after the Civil War. Over time the Klan added more groups of people to their hate list, when social settings started to change quickly. These groups include homosexuals, Jews, and Catholics. During the early 1990s and early 2000s the Klan was overlooked when more Neo-Nazi groups started to become more active.
"Ku Klux Klan." Extremist Files. Southern Poverty Law Center, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
By reading this source, we became aware of the different people the Ku Klux Klan attacked during their three eras of existence. Their “first era” began December 1865 during the Reconstruction at the end of the Civil War. This era ended after Jim Crow Laws came into play in the South. The second era began during the 1920s and mainly focused on intimidating Catholics and Jews. The third, and final era began during the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. These three eras show the Klan’s continuing legacy of hate against groups they persecuted.
“Ku Klux Klan- History.” Anti-Defamation League. 2013. Print.
From this source we were informed that William Joseph Simmons was the cause of the first revival of the Ku Klux Klan. Simmons had the desire to bring the Klan back after watching D.W. Griffith’s film “The Birth of a Nation.” He was not pleased with all of the other organizations in which he was a member, and he wanted one of his own, so he brought the Klan back. His targets were the catholic and Jewish immigrants that were coming to the United States. As the Klan got larger during this time, they also became more violent, and their image was suffering. By the time the Great Depression struck the Klan had already dissolved.
“Ku Klux Klan.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2012. Print.
By reading this source at the beginning of our research, we learned background about how the public views the Ku Klux Klan, which is in opposition to the way the Klan sees themselves. When the Klan was first assembled in 1865, after the Civil War, they would burn crosses to scare those who were not members of the Klan. They were thought of as a social club in the beginning, but Klan members think of it more as a religion. The Klan often used violence to threaten blacks and whites who supported gaining rights for blacks and other races in the South. The Klan’s goal in the first era was to keep blacks out of politics, but the government passed a law that made the Klan disappear. The second era of the Ku Klux Klan was the largest, but a large majority of the members were not violent. The public reacted so harshly to the era of the second era of the Klan that they once again disappeared.
“Nathan Bedford Forrest.” civilwar.org. Civil War Trust, Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
This biography of Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Ku Klux Klan’s first Grand Wizard taught us about his life and role in the Klan. Forrest was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil War for the Confederate Army. After the War he helped organize the Ku Klux Klan, although later on he attempted to break up the Klan. He failed at this and his title was taken away.
Ross, Janell. "Southern Poverty Law Center Report Finds 'Patriot' Groups Surge As Anti-Obama Fervor Grows." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
By reading this article we learned about the growing number of patriot and hate groups in the United States. Patriot groups are those who are for the confiscation of weapons and are devoted to the overthrow of the federal government. The groups are pushing themselves into the mainstream with their conspiracy theories. The government is receiving lots of threats as the groups are afraid that they are going to get their weapons taken away. These “patriot” groups are now beginning to be seen as hate groups, and are considered to be no better than traditional hate groups. Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of these groups, and today they are at the highest number that the government has ever seen.
United States. National Park Service. "History & Culture." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 04 Feb. 2015. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
This source made it clear to us what the Brown v. Board of Education case was all about. In Kansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, and Virginia cases were brought to the Supreme Court in order to decide on racial segregation in Public Schools. This case gave the Ku Klux Klan the opportunity to gain more members because of the amount of whites who disagreed with desegregation of schools. The leadership of the Klan led them to threaten blacks during the process of desegregation in Public schools.
United States. National Park Service. "We Shall Overcome -- Sixteenth Street Baptist Church." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
The National Parks Service gave us the opportunity to educate ourselves more on the topic of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963. This bombing, which killed four young girls, was led by the Ku Klux Klan in order to intimidate African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. This was just a start to the many violent actions to come from the Ku Klux Klan during the 1960s.
Wormser, Richard. “The Enforcement Acts.” PBS.org. ThirteenWNET New York, 2002.
By reading this website we learned about the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which was created to make any criminal acts that were committed privately a federal crime. President Ulysses Grant sent out federal troops to keep the peace in any places where violence was high. In areas in South Carolina martial law was set and many Klan members were sent to trial in front of mostly black juries. Hundreds of Klansmen were sent to jail, and thousands of others were given fines. By 1872 the Ku Klux Klan act had made the Klan disappear.
Wormser, Richard. “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.” PBS.org. ThirteenWNET New York, 2002.
From this site we gained information about the workings of the early Klan. The Ku Klux Klan used different phrases for specific leaders or members. General Nathan Bedford Forrest was thought to to be the first ¨Grand Wizard¨ or head of the organization. Other leadership positions include Grand Titan, Grand Dragon and Grand Cyclops. “Between 1869 and 1871 its goal was to destroy Congressional Reconstruction by murdering blacks -- and some whites -- who were either active in Republican politics or educating black children.” Many African Americans were killed: many for trying to have political power or for simply, just being African American. A police force created by Republicans was sent out to arrest Klan members. These special forces were most commonly called ¨crack¨ units and they helped put an end to some of the Klan’s activities.