The Ku Klux Klan

A historical document from the early 20th century that presents the Ku Klux Klan in sympathetic terms. Written by Annie Cooper Burton, the book traces the Klan's formation in 1866 as a social club that transformed into a white supremacist terrorist organization, detailing its rituals, organizational structure, and leadership under Nathan Bedford Forrest. Burton's account frames the Klan's violence against Black Americans and others as a mission of "restoring order" and defending Southern society, portraying members as noble guardians rather than what they actually were: perpetrators of intimidation, assault, and murder. The text provides historical insight into how the Klan constructed its own mythology and self-image, making it useful for understanding the rhetoric and self-justification of extremist movements. As a primary source documenting the second-wave Klan's self-perception during its early 20th-century revival, it stands as a troubling but important artifact for readers researching the history of American white supremacy and how hate groups market themselves to the public.