be involved.The Klan quickly grew. A leader was soon needed to control the large group.Their first choice was Southern General Robert E. Lee. Although he supportedthe group and its cause, he was very ill and could not handle the task. Theirnext choice was a man named Nathan Bedford Forrest.Forrest, although he wasn't as well known as General Lee, he was a greatleader. He was born in Mississippi and owned a plantation. He fought for theconfederate army for a long time before they recognized his abilities. Althoughhe didn't arrive early enough to greatly impact the war, he gained the respectof the top confederate leaders. After the war he was infuriated by thecarpetbaggers and needed a way to fight back. He saw the Ku Klux Klan as a wayto do it.He was quickly accepted as the "Grand Wizard". He had absolute power over theKlan members. The men were eager to do what he said, they trusted him. Many ofthe men were in need of a sense of belonging. The KKK gave them this. The Klanwas very secretive, all of the members were safe from people knowing their realidentities (if that was their wish). Because of this secrecy, they gained thealternate name of "The Invisible Empire".The Klan really began to take control in the year of 1868. They vowed to ridthe south of carpetbaggers, blacks and any person who supported them. Theystole the oppositions goods, beat them and even killed them. These murders wereknown as "lynching". They would drag the person to the center of the town andhang them in front of everyone. This method was very effective, people fearedit would happen to themselves if they had anything to do with the carpetbaggersor blacks.After the U.S. government removed troops from the South in the late 1800's, theKlan achieved its goal. Many of the groups disbanded and Forrest left. Afterthe turn of the century, it started again. This time the goal was much larger,freeing America of all non white, Christian Americans. This is the Ku Klux Klan...
