By Nate Feldman
Once African Americans had the right to vote, measures had to be
taken that these rights were preserved. Unfortunately, in response
to the end of slavery, the Ku Klux Klan was formed to intimidate and
frighten freed blacks from taking an active role in society. This
organization, made up initially of former Confederate soldiers, would
set out at night and destroy property and even kill people (“Ku
Klux Act Passed by Congress”). Their objective was to keep the
black community in a weak position.
In response to this,
Grant passed the Third Force Act, also known as the Ku Klux Act,
which gave the United States government permission to send in
military forces to areas where the Klan was active and protect the
local population from them. In 1871, nine South Carolina counties
where Klan activity was prominent would be put under military control
because of this new law (ibid). This aggressive measure shows that
Grant was not just willing to pass laws to give blacks rights, but he
was willing to create laws that meant sure those rights were kept at
all costs.
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