It was founded in 1865 during Reconstruction in the devastated South. Various historians have characterized the Klan as America's first terrorist group.

Dec 10, 2025 · The 19th-century Klan was originally organized as a social club by Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1866. They apparently derived the name from the Greek word kyklos, from …

In 1865, at the conclusion of the Civil War, six Confederate veterans gathered in Pulaski, Tennessee, to create the Ku Klux Klan, a vigilante group mobilizing a campaign of violence and terror against the …

Aug 10, 2023 · The first Klan was organized in May 1866 by a group of young Confederate veterans as a prankish social club. Soon, however, it evolved into a secret organization seeking to enable …

Dec 18, 2025 · How did the Ku Klux Klan spread across the South? Part of its journey depended on a code for secret correspondence.

Jan 8, 2025 · The Klan’s activities shaped key moments in history, from undermining Reconstruction to resisting Civil Rights advancements. The group contributed to the creation and enforcement of Jim …

In 1866, a group of defeated Confederate veterans created the Ku Klux Klan in Pulaski, Tennessee. The group consisted of the local newspaper editor, Luther McCord, his brother Frank McCord, and four …

These organizations have often used terrorism, violence and acts of intimidation to oppress Black Americans and other groups. The Klan's first appearance was shortly after the American Civil War in …

Any clan-like grouping or secret society with exclusivist or discriminatory ideologies. The word “Klan” is derived from the Greek word “kuklos,” meaning “circle” or “wheel.” This term was picked to signify a …

Originally founded as a fraternal organization for white male Protestants, the Klan promoted white supremacy and resistance against federal efforts to ensure civil rights for African Americans.