Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 by Kamryn Stafford

Congress authorizes President Ulysses S. Grant to declare martial law, impose heavy penalties against terrorist organizations, and use military force to suppress the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:18:53 UTC

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:19:34 UTC

The name of the Ku Klux Klan was derived from the Greek word kyklos, meaning “circle,” and the Scottish-Gaelic word “clan,” which was probably chosen for the sake of repetition.

Former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was the KKK’s first grand leader and in 1869 unsuccessfully tried to disband it after he grew critical of the Klan’s excessive violence.

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:22:01 UTC

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:23:22 UTC

In a few Southern states, Republicans organized militia units to break up the Klan.

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:24:08 UTC

In 1871, passage of the Ku Klux Act led to nine South Carolina counties being placed under martial law and thousands of arrests.

The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was Congress' attempt to put an end to the policies of terrorism, intimidation, and violence that the Klan has been using

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:26:12 UTC

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:27:35 UTC

In 1882, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Ku Klux Act unconstitutional, but by that time Reconstruction had ended, and the KKK had faded away.

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:32:44 UTC

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:34:03 UTC

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:35:28 UTC

kamrynstafford8 — 2015-03-27 13:36:46 UTC