Final answer:
The KKK initially gained power through violence and intimidation post-Civil War, to maintain white supremacy. Its resurgence in the 1920s was fueled by nativism and high-level memberships but eventually declined due to financial scandals, public denunciations, legislation, and the Great Depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
How did the KKK come to power?
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was initially formed by Confederate veterans in 1865 as a secret fraternity. During Reconstruction, the organization evolved into a terrorist group intent on preserving white supremacy through violent means, targeting African Americans and their allies. In 1915, the KKK experienced a resurgence, influenced by D. W. Griffith’s film 'Birth of a Nation,' which depicted the original Klan in a heroic light, and the eugenics movement. The second incarnation also opposed immigration and embraced nativist sentiments.
With Nathan Bedford Forrest as its first leader, the Klan's early power was rooted in its status as an “Invisible Empire” that intimidated and assaulted those advocating for racial equality. It expanded its reach beyond African Americans, targeting Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. The Second Klan grew significantly in the 1920s, with members in high positions of power, including state legislatures, which further increased its influence. However, its power waned due to public denunciation, financial scandals, and the Great Depression.
Vigilante violence helped the Klan and similar groups undermine Reconstruction, with the KKK becoming a political force behind certain Democratic Party interests. The public scandals and anti-masking laws eventually led to a decline in their power, but it wasn’t until the economic strains of the Great Depression that the Klan's membership and influence severely diminished.