KKK: Then and Now | National Geographic

Summary

The transcript discusses the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) throughout American history. In the early 20th century, the Klan grew in response to immigration and social changes, reaching over 4 million members by the 1920s. After a decline, the Klan resurfaced during the Civil Rights era, attacking African Americans and civil rights activists. Between 1955 and 1965, the Klan committed numerous bombings and murders. However, public backlash and FBI infiltration weakened the group, reducing its membership drastically by the 1970s, though the Klan has periodically managed to rebuild.

Takeaways

• 🌍 America's social landscape changed significantly at the turn of the 20th century with rapid urbanization, industrialization, and an influx of Jewish and Catholic immigrants.
• 👥 The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) began a violent campaign to terrorize immigrants, exploiting fears that they threatened American values.
• 📈 By the 1920s, KKK membership grew to over 4 million, fueled by these social tensions.
• 📉 During the 1930s and 40s, Klan membership declined, but the group saw a resurgence during the Civil Rights era in the 1950s.
• ✊ The Civil Rights Movement pushed for an end to Jim Crow laws, which supported racial discrimination in the South, and the Klan viewed this as a threat to white supremacy.
• 💣 Between 1955 and 1965, the Klan or its sympathizers carried out over 200 bombings and killed 40 civil rights workers.
• 📸 Brutal images of Klan violence helped turn public opinion against the group during the Civil Rights era.
• 🔍 By the end of the 1960s, the FBI successfully infiltrated the Klan, and its leaders were prosecuted.
• 📉 Klan membership dropped from 40,000 in 1961 to 1,500 by 1973.
• 🌱 Despite setbacks, the Klan has historically been able to rebuild and re-emerge as a threat.

Q & A

What significant changes were happening in America's social landscape at the turn of the 20th century?

America's social landscape was rapidly changing due to urbanization, industrialization, and a massive influx of Jewish and Catholic immigrants from Europe.

How did the Ku Klux Klan respond to the influx of immigrants during this time?

The Klan began a violent campaign to terrorize immigrants, exploiting fears that they threatened American values.

What was the peak membership of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s?

By the 1920s, Klan membership had grown to over 4 million.

Why did Klan membership decline during the 1930s and 1940s?

Klan membership declined during the 1930s and 1940s, likely due to changes in society and political circumstances.

What led to the resurgence of the Klan during the Civil Rights era in the 1950s?

The Klan experienced a resurgence during the Civil Rights era as African Americans began to demand an end to the Jim Crow laws, which the Klan viewed as a threat to white rule.

What were some of the violent actions carried out by the Klan during the Civil Rights Movement?

Between 1955 and 1965, the Klan or its sympathizers carried out over 200 bombings and murdered 40 civil rights workers.

How did public opinion shift in response to the Klan's violence during the Civil Rights era?

Brutal images of Klan violence turned public opinion against the Klan during the Civil Rights era.

What role did the FBI play in the decline of the Klan during the 1960s?

The FBI successfully infiltrated the Klan, and its leaders were prosecuted, leading to a decline in the group's influence.

How much did Klan membership decrease between 1961 and 1973?

Klan membership decreased from nearly 40,000 in 1961 to a low of 1,500 in 1973.

What does the script suggest about the long-term resilience of the Ku Klux Klan?

Despite repeated declines, the Ku Klux Klan has historically managed to rebuild itself after each period of decline.