How do groups like the KKK exist and gain popularity (both during the 1920’s and today)?

In Pulaski, Tennessee, a group of people (“Confederate veterans”) came together to start a secret society. They named it the “Ku Klux Klan.” The KKK grew quickly due to the desire all the individuals had to “reverse the federal government’s progressive Reconstruction era-activities in the South” as stated by the Britannica, “especially policies that elevated the rights of the local Black population”. So, this group grew due to a desire they had, to change the government’s ideas, rules and norms. And, it stuck that way till the 1920s. This group used violence as a way of not supporting Reconstruction and African Americans.

“The Klan became a national, not just regional, organization.” Though it adopted some of the original Klan teachings, it maintained its goal of white supremacy. The new KKK modernized itself by “employing more sophisticated marketing techniques and responding to issues that were troubling Americans in the years after World War I”. By 1926 the Klan boasted over three million members. And, it had political influence in some areas of the country, including Alabama as stated by Archives Alabama. It was hate and racism that brought the clan together, the hate of others that were different that made the clan unite and drew others that were similar to them.

The KKK were involved in terrorist raids towards African Americans and white Republicans at night, “employing intimidation, destruction of property, assault, and murder to achieve its aims and influence upcoming elections.” as stated by History.

The U.S news stated: “The organized Ku Klux Klan movement saw a boost in its membership in 2017.

Some 42 different Klan groups were active in 22 states as of June 2017, a slight increase from early 2016, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League, a nonpartisan civil rights advocacy group. The Klan, known for promoting white supremacist and white nationalist ideas, has captured recent public attention amid fallout from a weekend marked by race-fueled clashes.

President Donald Trump mentioned the movement by name on Aug. 14 during a speech from the White House in response to the violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The rally resulted in clashes with counterdemonstrators that left one woman dead and more than a dozen injured.

"Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans," Trump said.”

As we can see racism, the intolerance of the diverse, the different can cause a group of people to unify and cause a catastrophe, like the Nazi era.

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one of the main reasons was definitely slavery. back in 1861, republican abraham lincoln was elected and ended up being a major influence in the slavery business. slavery greatly affected the texas economy because back in 1845 during the annexation of texas, slaves became a big part of the texas population. many texans that were in favor of the secession influenced groups through party ties.