Book Report

They Called Themselves The K.K.K by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

In this book Bartoletti explains the history of the Ku Klux Klan. Bartoletti tells of how the Confederate individuals were not typically allowed to do business or have political positions for a period of time following the civil war. Many of these confederate people were used to being very busy so they were angry and had a lot of time on their hands. The K.K.K started in Pulaski, Tennessee as a social club founded by six people who had been in fraternities in the South at one point. These people put sheets over their heads and engaged in horseplay at first, the club seemed to be harmless. However the K.K.K later grew into a hate group that committed many terrible crimes. As the K.K.K grew, the meaning of them wearing white sheets was to portray themselves as ghosts of confederate soldiers. The K.K.K began to commit crimes against African Americans and they were afraid that eventually black people would enslave white people. Bartoletti describes beating that the K.K.K gave to black families, including whippings, hangings and other sorts of murder. Black individuals couldn't find any political help at the time because most people in the court were still racist. Bartoletti tells about President Johnson and how he supported many confederate beliefs and was far too lenient with the K.K.K and was almost impeached. After President Johnson lost power, President Ulysses S. Grant came to power and was not lenient with the K.K.K, Grant eventually passed the Ku Klux Klan act which allowed the federal government to step into states with internal problems and help the oppressed individuals if their rights were being altered. Grant moved Federal judges and Marshals in with the army and began to round up mass members of the K.K.K. Members were brought to court and many freedmen gave their claims against the members. The K.K.K was scattered and was not allowed to call themselves a clan for years after their prosecution, as Grant left office the K.K.K was punished and disbanded even though they reunited as a clan later on, they have not been as violent as they were.