The most famous movements of white ultranationalist organizations in the United States are associated with this name. In fact, in the history of the United States there were three organizations with the name "Ku Klux Klan." The emergence of each of them was due to social and national shocks in the country.
First Ku Klux Klan
The first ultranationalists who defended the idea of superiority of the white race appeared in the south of the United States immediately after the end of the Civil War of 1861-1865. Recall, the victory of the North with its developed industry led to the abolition of slavery in the country and the destruction of the basis of the economic life of the South - plantation slavery. Six months after the end of the war, several veterans of the southern army who disagreed with its results created the first such organization in the state of Tennessee . At first, racists did not kill their victims, but only frightened their appearance. The famous suit of Ku Klux Klan, consisting of white robes, terrified the superstitious slaves of yesterday. Many sincerely believed that these were the souls of soldiers killed during the war. Thus, terror in its original sense - the fomenting of fear - was the primary goal of the organization. The same goal was pursued and further murders, lynching of the black population. By 1868 the number of the organization exceeded half a million people, which operated already in eleven southern states. During the 1965-1970s, a number of terrorist acts were committed by the Ku Klux Klan. However, until now historians do not agree on the number of victims. By the early 1870s, the organization had achieved colossal power in many southern states. The police could not solve the issue on their own. However, the peak of racist excesses, which occurred in October 1871, forced the federal government to declare a state of siege in a number of regions. Hundreds of activists of the organization were arrested and sentenced. As a result of this threat, the head of the clan, the former general of the southern army of Forrest, officially announced the dissolution of the organization.
Second Ku Klux Klan
The revival occurred during the First World War on the initiative of the old members of the organization, remembering the first stage of its activity. The Ku Klux Klan, whose photo reappeared on the front pages of the newspapers, announced its struggle not only with blacks, but also with representatives of other national minorities, as well as with communists, big businessmen and others. However, at this stage of its existence, the organization has not achieved significant successes, practically disintegrating into small, insignificant groups. The revival of these groups occurred during the next surge of social and national struggles of blacks.
Third Ku Klux Klan
The mid-twentieth century gave rise to a lot of activity on national and racial grounds in the United States. In the 1950-1960s there was a massive movement of black citizens, granted them civil rights and the elimination of discrimination. In the 1960s, radical organizations of blacks (like the "Black Panthers"), which had been operating for several years, were gaining momentum. In these conditions, the Ku Klux Klan is revived again. Through the efforts of activist David Duke, the organization in the second half of the seventies increases in its number to several thousand people. However, the nationalist dawn ended quickly enough. The activities of the "Black Panther" were suppressed mainly by large-scale police actions in 1969. Ideologists of the Ku Klux Klan were arrested ten years later, after which the popularity of the movement went down.