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Social Studies 5: The History of the Ku Klux Klan 207 Views
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Description:
We know it isn't fun to hear about, but hate groups were and are unfortunately a part of history. And we hate them. But not in a hate-groupy way of course. Today's lesson is all about the Ku Klux Klan.
Transcript
- 00:04
[Coop and Dino singing]
- 00:13
You've probably seen these idiots in bed sheets before…but just who are they? [Ku Klux Klan members]
- 00:17
They're members of the Ku Klux Klan, or the KKK. It's a group of hateful, mean people
- 00:22
who look like the losers at a Halloween costume contest. [People wearing halloween costumes on stage]
- 00:25
If only that was the worst thing about them…
Full Transcript
- 00:27
The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Tennessee in 1866
- 00:31
by six confederate veterans, who clearly had no fashion sense.
- 00:35
Its first leader was Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a guy who, if you can't already [Nathan Forrest]
- 00:39
tell just by looking at him, wasn't too happy with the outcome of the war, seeing as his [Nathan Forrest standing in a jail cell]
- 00:44
side lost and all.
- 00:45
The group's aim was to be the “invisible Empire of the South,” by scaring African
- 00:50
Americans and trying to tell everyone that white people were the best.
- 00:54
They did this through lots of violent acts towards African Americans, black institutions, [Black American in chains]
- 00:58
and black elected politicians.
- 01:00
Basically, they were a bunch of really nasty people.
- 01:03
As a response to the KKK's disgusting, inhuman behavior, the US government established the
- 01:08
1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, which aimed to put a stop to their violent acts. [The Ku Klux Klan act of 1871]
- 01:13
This act, along with the emergence of several other political groups, lead to a slow decline
- 01:17
of KKK's activities throughout the end of the 19th century, which made pretty much everyone
- 01:22
that wasn't the KKK super happy. [Group of people happy]
- 01:24
Sadly, the Klan experienced a revival in 1915, and throughout the 1920s, this time because
- 01:29
of ideas surrounding anti-immigration. That made pretty much everyone that wasn't the KKK super sad. [KKK protesting for anti-immigration]
- 01:35
It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
- 01:38
But then came with Great Depression in 1929, which sure, was pretty terrible for a lot
- 01:42
of reasons, but on the bright side, it led to the official end of the KKK in 1944. [Hand punches KKK member in the head]
- 01:47
Seriously, what a rollercoaster.
- 01:49
A few years later in the 1950s and 60s came the Civil Rights Movement. That was a pretty
- 01:54
swell time, because everyone banded together in order to end racial segregation and discrimination [Group of people protesting]
- 01:59
in the United States.
- 02:00
Which, as you can imagine, didn't fly with the Official Grouchy Jerks Club, aka the Ku
- 02:05
Klux Klan, who re-emerged during this time in order to fight all the progress going on.
- 02:09
These guys were like the boogeyman…just when you think they're gone, they crawl out [Boogeyman appears from under a boys bed]
- 02:13
from underneath your bed…
- 02:15
Thankfully, the KKK violence and membership has never been as popular as it once was,
- 02:20
and is has been on a steady decline since the 1970s, though it still exists today. [KKK member speaking and a tomato hits his face]
- 02:25
And yes, they still wear those dumb bed-sheet ghost costumes.
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