Founding of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.
What happened? Summarize the event!
Where did the event take place?
When did the event take place?
Why is this event important or significant to Georgia’s history?
The founding of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) involved a group of six Confederate veterans from Tennessee who formed the organization. They were Nathan Bedford Forrest, John C. Lester, James R. Crowe, Frank O. McCord, Richard R. Reed, and J. Calvin Jones.
The event took place in Tennessee, specifically in the small town of Pulaski. On December 24, 1865, these individuals decided to establish the Klan as a secret society with the aim of intimidating and suppressing newly freed African Americans and their white allies during Reconstruction.
This event is significant to Georgia's history because the Klan eventually spread across the South, including Georgia, becoming notorious for its acts of violence and terror. The KKK targeted not only Black individuals but also white Republicans and civil rights activists who were advocating for equal rights and social justice. The group's activities had a lasting impact on race relations and political landscapes in Georgia, contributing to a climate of fear and oppression for African Americans and hindering progress toward racial equality.