How did the Ku Klux Klan impact the voting rights of African Americans?

• The Ku Klux Klan terrorized African Americans to stop them from voting.

The Ku Klux Klan convinced Congress to disenfranchise African Americans.
The Ku Klux Klan lobbied for new laws that extended voting rights to African Americans.
• The Ku Klux Klan bribed local officials to allow African Americans to vote.

1 answer

The Ku Klux Klan primarily sought to terrorize African Americans to prevent them from exercising their voting rights. They used various forms of intimidation, violence, and threats to discourage African Americans from registering to vote or going to the polls. This included acts such as cross burnings, lynchings, bombings, and physical assaults on individuals who attempted to vote. The aim was to create a climate of fear and suppress African American participation in the political process. Their efforts were successful in many instances, as African Americans were often deterred from voting due to fear for their safety and the safety of their families.