Klansville USA

 

The Ku Klux Klan was a group made up of a bunch of white Americans that started way back during the Civil War and would diminish and reform throughout history.

The KKK first took form during the Civil War when decommissioned generals of the Confederate Army banded together in a group. At first, they started by dressing up as confederate soldiers come back from the dead to terrorize newly freed slaves. But, during the reconstruction era the KKK became violent. 

The film, "The Birth of a Nation", was a film that glorified the KKK. This film sparked the second rise of the KKK in the 1920's. This klan was very big in unexpected places.

By the 30's bad press had ripped apart the klan and silenced them once again. But not for long. During the Civil Rights movement the klan formed once again after the hearing of Brown v. The Board of Education.

The KKK became very prominent in North Carolina, deeming North Carolina Klansville, due to the Grand Dragon Bob Jones. Many believed that Jones' hatred came from within. Jones was a very poor man who hadn't had very much success in his life. 

Being named Grand Dragon of the KKK in North Carolina was the biggest achievement for Jones and this lead to a very dangerous path. One thing that Jones was very good at was speaking to people and organizing events that lead the KKK in North Carolina to grow as big as it did. 

Many events in the 60's, like sit-ins, sparked rage in the KKK. With this Jones started to take action and began growing the KKK. Jones soon made George Dorsit, a highly thought of preacher, the preacher for the klan. With his sermons and Jones' organization skills the two made a perfect duo for forming a klan as big as they did. 

Jones started to recruit many new members. He accomplished by holding many rallies throughout North Carolina. Especially in the summer of 1964, Jones held many rallies that many people showed up for. Many people would come out to the rallies for a source of "entertainment" or a family night out. But, as the night went on the more serious and hate filled the rallies became. 

Near the end of the rallies Jones and the other klan members would begin to talk about their hatred for desegregation and black people. They then would end each rally with a hymn and the burning of a large cross wrapped in burlap and drenched in gasoline. 

Even though these rallies were centered around racist ideas and beliefs Jones claimed that he didn't promote violence. He claimed that the KKK is only a group for white people just like the NAACP is for black people. 

Jones would hold many demonstrations including rallies and marches but one thing that he remained very careful about was violence. Jones was scared of violence because he was afraid that he would lose everything he has gained from the klan. 

After the murder of a white civil rights worker, the federal government began to crack down on the KKK. After President Johnson made a statement, the Klan became very angry and defiant. They felt as though they were being treated like criminals and that they were to blame. 

At one of the rallies, Jones decided to host the three men that were accused of the murder. With this being such a big deal, CBS decided to send reporters and a film crew to document the rally. This was major. It was the very first time people at home would be seeing the klan up close. 

One way the federal government began to crack down on the KKK was through informants. One of the biggest informants that the FBI had gotten was no one other than Dorsit himself. This was big because Dorsit was in the main circle and had access to valuable information. 

Dorsit would keep the FBI up to date with what was going on. The FBI finally made a break through when they were informed about how some of the klans members were upset with how the money was being handled. 

After investigation, they finally held a televised hearing on the klan. During the hearing, Jones and other prominent leader of the KKK used the 5th amendment numerous times. This infuriated the klan members. This sparked rage because the klan believed that only communist take the 5th amendment or someone who has something to hide. 

In the end Dorsit went on to start his own group taking many people with him. Also, due to failure to presenting the court the klan records, Jones ended up having to serve a year in Federal prison. 

When Jones finally got out of prison it was too late. The klan had diminished to a fraction of the original size. Also, many members were upset about what had happened. This led them to burning their klan papers and thus leading to the fall of the KKK once more.