Ku Klux Klan (historical context)

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a white supremacist hate group founded in the United States in 1865. It originated during Reconstruction, aiming to oppose the rights of newly freed Black Americans through acts of terror, intimidation, and violence. The KKK promoted racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and anti-Catholic beliefs, and experienced several periods of resurgence, notably in the early 20th century and during the Civil Rights Movement. Its activities have historically included lynching, threats, and rallies designed to intimidate marginalized communities and uphold white dominance.