The Ku Klux Klan was started in 1866. This was a period in United States history known as the reconstruction. This group was not initially fromed to hurt others, as some might think. Originally, members of this group were confederate veterans who united to tell their stories and be compensated from the horrors of war. They even referred to themselves as the ghost of confederate soldiers.

One night, this secret klan was immediately transformed into a violent group. These men would ride into the night wearing white hoods so they could terrorize local republicans and blacks. They said they were the ghost of dead confederate soldiers. Many of these crimes dealt with murder, rape, beatings,whippings, and threats.

In 1872 the klan swiftly disappeared due to reinforcement of the law by armed military units working against them.

The klan added new groups of people to their growing list of people to hate. People like Jews, Immigrants, Hispanics, and Catholics were added to their list. At one point the klan reportedly had more then 3 million members.

In the post World War I years this organization began to decline. By the 1930's it had nearly lost all it's power. Later, however, the again the klan rose in both number of members and violent attacks. In the 1960's the klan terrorized many people and regained political power. People like David Duke and George C. Wallace were elected officials who were also reported members of this organization.