The KKK was founded in 1865 by former Confederate Army soldiers in Pulaski, Tennessee. It quickly spread throughout the South and became a powerful force in local politics. The Klan used violence and intimidation to terrorize African Americans and prevent them from exercising their civil rights. They targeted African American leaders, churches, and schools, and they often lynched African Americans who were accused of crimes.
The KKK also targeted other minority groups, including Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. They believed that these groups were a threat to white supremacy and that they should be kept out of positions of power. The KKK's actions created a climate of fear and intimidation that prevented many African Americans and other minorities from participating in public life.
The KKK has undergone periods of decline and resurgence throughout its history. It reached its peak in the early 20th century, when it had an estimated membership of several million. The KKK was significantly weakened by the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, but it has never completely disappeared. Today, there are still several active KKK chapters in the United States.
The KKK's main goal has always been to maintain white supremacy and to prevent African Americans from achieving equality and civil rights. This goal has been expressed through violence, intimidation, and discrimination. The KKK has also targeted other minority groups in order to maintain its power. The KKK is a symbol of racism, hatred, and intolerance, and it represents one of the darkest chapters in American history.