Post-Civil War and 1960s Klan Activity

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary effect of the Enforcement Acts passed by Congress in the 1870s?

They formally dissolved the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups.

They limited the ability of the president to use military force in the South.

They expanded the authority of the federal government to combat Klan violence. (correct)

They increased the power of state governments to prosecute Klan members.

Which action was NOT authorized by the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871?

Suspending the writ of habeas corpus.

Sending federal forces to suppress Klan violence.

Establishing state-level offices, to handle Klan related offences. (correct)

Arresting accused individuals without charge.

What was a specific crime the Ku Klux Klan Act designated as a federal offense?

Refusing to employ Black individuals.

Conspiring to deprive citizens of the right to hold office. (correct)

Distributing literature promoting white supremacy.

Organizing secret meetings to plan acts of violence.

What was the general reaction of Southern white citizens, not members of the Klan, to the Klan's actions?

They remained silent against the Klan, providing tacit approval. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What primarily contributed to the waning support for Reconstruction in the South?

The resurgence of white supremacy and Democratic control in the South. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major catalyst for public outrage against the Klan in the 1960s?

The bombings, beatings, and shootings of civil rights activists. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a specific action taken by President Lyndon Johnson in response to Klan violence in the 1960s ?

A speech publicly condemning the Klan and announcing arrests. (A) Signup and view all the answers

As of 2016, what was the estimated range of Ku Klux Klan membership, according to the sources mentioned?

Around 3,000 to 6,000 members. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What legal provision did the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 specifically empower the president to suspend?

The writ of habeas corpus. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the shift in political control in the South following the Reconstruction era?

A shift from Republican to Democratic control by the end of 1876. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did certain leading white citizens in the South respond to the actions of the Ku Klux Klan?

They tacitly approved by not speaking out against them. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a direct legal consequence of the Enforcement Acts passed in the 1870s?

It redefined certain crimes as federal offenses, committed by individuals. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate political effect of President Grant's use of the Ku Klux Klan Act in South Carolina?

It outraged Democrats and alarmed many Republicans. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Besides bombings and shootings, what other form of violence by the Klan is specifically mentioned in the 1960s?

Beatings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the 1960s, how did the media portrayal of Klan violence primarily impact public opinion about Civil Rights?

It galvanized support for the civil rights movement. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What significant shift in the affiliations of Klan members occurred from the 1970s onward?

An alignment with neo-Nazi and other right-wing extremist organizations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for the passage of the Enforcement Acts by Congress?

To address the violence and civil rights violations in the South. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which estimation of Klan membership in 2016 was stated by the Southern Poverty Law Center according to this text?

Around 6,000 members. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Post-Civil War Klan Activity

Leading white Southerners often passively supported Klan actions, implicitly endorsing their violence.
Republican Southern governments sought Congressional intervention, leading to three Enforcement Acts, culminating in the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871.
The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 defined Klan activities as federal crimes, including conspiracies to deny citizens' rights.
It empowered the president to suspend habeas corpus and deploy federal troops against Klan violence.
President Ulysses S. Grant used this act effectively in 1871 to suppress Klan activity, which angered Southern Democrats and some Republicans.
By the end of 1876, the South was again under Democratic control.

1960s Klan Resurgence

Local Klan activity intensified in the 1960s, escalating violence against civil rights activists.
Bombings, beatings, and shootings targeted both Black and white activists.
National outrage and support for the civil rights movement grew in response.
President Lyndon Johnson condemned the Klan publicly and announced arrests in connection with a civil rights worker’s murder in Alabama.

Contemporary Klan Activity

Klan-related violence significantly decreased in later decades.
Remaining groups were frequently associated with neo-Nazi and right-wing extremist organizations.
In 2016, the Anti-Defamation League estimated around 3,000 Klan members, while the Southern Poverty Law Center estimated closer to 6,000.

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Description

Explore the history of Ku Klux Klan activities from the Post-Civil War era to the 1960s. Understand the federal government's response to Klan violence and the resurgence of Klan activity during civil rights movements. This quiz covers significant legislation and events that shaped the fight against racial violence.