Which of the following BEST explains the growing popularity of the Ku Klux Klan throughout the South in the 1860s and 1870s?(1 point) Responses The organization established the first public high schools and universities in many Southern States. The organization established the first public high schools and universities in many Southern States. The organization built many large factories and helped the South become a major manufacturing center. The organization built many large factories and helped the South become a major manufacturing center. The organization capitalized on Southerners' fear of the changes that occurred after the Civil War. The organization capitalized on Southerners' fear of the changes that occurred after the Civil War. The organization was the dominant political party in the South and helped influence federal policy.
The organization capitalized on Southerners' fear of the changes that occurred after the Civil War.
The best explanation for the growing popularity of the Ku Klux Klan throughout the South in the 1860s and 1870s can be found in the response: "The organization capitalized on Southerners' fear of the changes that occurred after the Civil War."
To explain how this answer was determined, it is important to understand some historical context. The Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1865 shortly after the end of the American Civil War. During this time, the South was experiencing significant social, political, and economic changes that were unsettling to many.
After the Civil War, the abolition of slavery, the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, and the Reconstruction era brought about a new social order in the South. African Americans were granted freedom and citizenship rights, including the right to vote. This change, coupled with the presence of federal troops in the South to enforce these new laws, created fear and anxiety among many white Southerners.
The Ku Klux Klan capitalized on these fears and anxieties by presenting themselves as protectors of white supremacy and defenders of the traditional social order. They targeted African Americans, Republicans, and anyone who they perceived as a threat to white dominance. Through acts of violence, intimidation, and terrorism, they sought to maintain white control and suppress the rights and freedoms of African Americans.
Therefore, the growing popularity of the Ku Klux Klan can be attributed to their exploitation of Southerners' fear of the changes that occurred after the Civil War. It allowed them to gain support and recruit members who were opposed to the social and political changes happening in the South during this time.