The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a white supremacist hate group that has a long history of violence and discrimination against African Americans in the United States. The KKK was founded in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee, in the aftermath of the Civil War. Originally a social club for Confederate veterans, the KKK quickly transformed into a terrorist organization that aimed to maintain white supremacy and oppress African Americans.

The KKK used intimidation, violence, and lynching to terrorize African Americans and prevent them from exercising their rights as citizens. During the Reconstruction era, the KKK targeted newly freed slaves and their supporters, as well as Republican politicians who championed civil rights for African Americans. The KKK's reign of terror persisted well into the 20th century, with the group attacking and murdering African Americans, burning crosses, and spreading fear in communities across the country.

Despite efforts to combat the KKK through legislation and law enforcement, the group continued to exist and exert influence throughout the 20th century. The KKK's ideology of white supremacy and racial hatred has had a lasting impact on American society, contributing to systemic racism and inequality that continues to be a significant issue in the United States today.