KKK

Question 1

Topic sentence

Answer 1

Some historians disagree with this and believe that white supremacist organisations such as the KKK were the most important obstacle in preventing black people from achieving civil rights.

Question 1

Evidence 1

Answer 1

In 1915, the KKK was re-founded by William K Simmons and as an organisation they used tactics of fear, terror and intimidation to prohibit black people from achieving their civil rights.

Question 2

Analysis 1

Answer 2

This was an important obstacle in preventing black people from achieving civil rights because the tactics of violence used by the KKK were put in place to scare black people and to prevent them for campaigning for better treatment and conditions, which made it almost impossible for them to improve their status in America.

Question 3

Evidence 2

Answer 3

Additionally, by 1925, the Ku Klux Klan had 5 million members and dominated state legislatures in states such as Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma and Texas etc.

Question 4

Analysis 2

Answer 4

This was an important obstacle to preventing black people from achieving civil rights because the widespread support of the KKK meant that they could projects their racist views across the USA. For example, KKK membership increased during the depression when competition for jobs made racism in the South worse.

Question 5

Counter analysis

Answer 5

However, historians argue that the KKKs impact had started to decrease by the late 1920s because their influence had reduced, and this led to their membership reducing in numbers.

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

To evaluate, whilst the KKK were unarguably an influential white supremacist organisation who used violence and intimidation toward black people, which is exemplified through historian Juliet Bonds argument “Since 1865, the Ku Klux Klan has provided a vehicle for this kind of hatred in America, and its members have been responsible for atrocities that are difficult for most people to even imagine”. However, despite this, it is clear that the KKK could not have grown to prominence without the existence of prejudice and racism. Indeed, prejudice and racism fuelled the beliefs of this extremely powerful and violent organisation and led them to be committed “100% AMERICANISM” and restrict its membership to native-born white Protestants.