Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan, with its long history of brutal violence, was America's first and most infamous domestic terrorists.  This hate group was formed in December 1865, the Klan has typically seen itself as a Christian organization, although it was anything but Christian-like. Though they mainly targeted blacks, the Klan also targeted Jews, immigrants, gays and lesbians and, until recently, Catholics.

Their initial goal however, was to stop blacks from voting, and they tried to deprive blacks of their rights throughout the South. They also targeted whites, such as the Radical Republicans, who were working to guarantee blacks' civil rights. 

After the Jim Crow Law was passed, the "first era" of the Ku Klux Klan was demolished, it rose again in the 1920s due to the strong opposition to immigrants (mainly Catholics and Jews). By 1925, the Klan had as many as 4 million members and, in some states, considerable political power. But a series of sex scandals, internal battles over power and newspaper exposés quickly reduced its influence and it died out. The Klan arose a third time during the 1960s to oppose the civil rights movement and to preserve segregation. The Klan's bombings, murders and other attacks took many innocent lives, leaving America fearing the worst. 

Since the 1970s, the Klan has been greatly weakened by internal conflicts, court cases, and government infiltration. Today, the Center estimates that there are between 5,000 and 8,000 Klan members, split among dozens of different organizations that use the Klan name.