The Ku Klux Klan, known as the KKK, is an extremist group that originated in Tennessee during the 1860’s. For many men joining the KKK brought a sense of fraternity or brotherhood. They believed in white supremacy. They had a hatred towards Jews, Catholics, homosexuals, or anything that was seemed to be foreign. They performed hate crimes against individuals who were a race or religion they did not like. They were responsible for the death of many African American’s after the civil war. They lynched and beat many people to death. The KKK held massive rallies to preach what they believed and held huge initiation ceremonies. They are infamous for their white robes and pointed hats and they had a popular ritual of burning a cross. Many government officials were a part of the Klan which caused a great deal of terror in the south. The KKK still exists today; however, it is not as nearly massive as it once was during the reconstruction.