Ku Klux Klan is a name that perhaps everyone has heard at least once in their lifetime. Most associate this group with a terrible history of African American oppression and hatred through the use of grotesque methods of torture and killing. Some may wonder how and why such a horrible organization was formed. The name Nathan Bedford Forrest may not be one that is heard very often, but it is to this man who helped to get the Klan up and running in its early years.
Nathan Bedford Forrest served as a General for the Confederate army during the Civil War and was said to have been one of the strongest leaders of the Confederate army. Forrest was the oldest of nine children and was thrust into the role of caretaker after his father passed away when Forrest was just sixteen years old. 1 A tragedy such as this could take its toll on a young person, but instead of falling down, Forrest quickly began making a name for himself. He began by working with his uncle to trade horses and then later moved on to the business of buying and selling slaves and real estate. Forrest became very successful in his businesses and in turn became a very wealthy man. 2
When his home state of Tennessee made the decision to secede from the Union, Nathan Bedford Forrest wasted no time in volunteering as a private soldier. 3 He was well known in the area and moved up the ranks to earn his title of General rather quickly. Forrest was said to have been a fearless man who had no problems taking action quickly and forcefully. He thought of his men as his own flesh and blood and was quick to straighten them out if necessary. 4
The Ku Klux Klan was formed shortly after the Civil War ended and the group, like most groups in the South at the time, were attempting to oppress African Americans by any means necessary. A group such as this would need a leader who was not afraid to take charge and execute direction. It would appear the position of Grand Wizard for the Ku Klux Klan was a perfect fit for Forrest. Not only did Forrest have leadership and fighting experience but he was a former slave owner who had, very early on, made it his business to buy and sell slaves and had become very wealthy in the process. The Klan was still in its infancy when Forrest took position as the first Grand Wizard in 1867. However, this title would be short lived for Forrest as he decided to separate himself from the Klan in their early years after realizing the Klan was growing at a rapid rate and his authority would very soon no longer reign supreme. 5
The Ku Klux Klan would spend many years using different tactics to intimidate and oppress African Americans in the United States. It was not until Congress passed and began to carry out the Enforcement Acts that many of the activities carried out by the Klan finally began to decline. The Acts were put in place to help protect the rights of African Americans and hold all parties responsible who were caught attempting oppression. 6 Although Nathan Bedford Forrest only spent a short period of time with the Ku Klux Klan, it is possible that his popularity in the area allowed the organization to rise quickly and spread throughout the South.
- Jac Weller, “The Logistics of Nathan Bedford Forrest,” Military Affairs 17, no. 4 (1953): 162. ↵
- Weller, (1953): 162. ↵
- Richard Tillinghast, “Nathan Bedford Forrest: Born to Fight.” Sewanee Review 123, no. 4 (Fall 2015): 605 ↵
- Weller, (1953): 169. ↵
- Court Carney, “The Contested Image of Nathan Bedford Forrest.” The Journal of Southern History 67, no. 3 (2001): 603. ↵
- Alan Brinkley, American History: Connecting with the Past Volume 2, 15 edition. (McGraw-Hill Education, 2014): 414. ↵
71 comments
Yazmin Garza
Although I do understand that a damaging childhood can result in a person who is hateful or violent, I still can not imagine what could possibly drive someone to be so filled with hate to the point where they not only join but lead a group such as the Ku Klux Klan. Also, I wish the author would have gone more into detail about how the KKK came to be; more specifically, the title of Grand Wizard.
Bianca-Rhae Jacquez
Everyone has clearly heard the name Ku Klux Klan but it is true that many don’t know much of the start up of this group. I think this article is a very interesting topic cause it is based on a person that we don’t know anything about. I think telling a background of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s life was critical for the article.
Eric Ortega Rodriguez
The Ku Klux Klan is a name, like the author says, one that everyone has heard at one point or another. However, not many people have heard about Nathan Bedford Forrest, which is what makes this article so interesting, it serves a way to inform people of the leadership the KKK was under. I was surprised to find out that Forrest himself relieved himself from being the first Grand Wizard due to the Klan growing so rapidly. Overall, a very interesting article. Good work.
Oscar Ortega
This article is very good. It tells the story of Nathan Bedford Forrest clearly and succinctly. Most often, the most any who actually know of him actually know is that he was the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, but this article expands on his life in a way that provides a frame of reference for how he came upon that position, even if he held it for only a short time. This is a straightforward article that does it’s job of telling Nathan Bedford Forrest’s story very well.
Ryan Estes
I have always known of the Ku Klux Klan, but I never knew who its first leader was. I’m actually curious why they called the leader of the Ku Klux Klan the “grand wizard.” Anyway, Nathan Bedford Forrest certainly had the capability to lead such a horrific group, given his history with fighting and owning slaves. The world would be a better place if organizations like the Ku Klux Klan didn’t exist, so we have a responsibility to work for peace and tolerance among all peoples.
Christopher Hohman
Nice article. The Klu Klux Klan is one evil organization that has done terrible things in order to oppress minorities. It is so sad that a man like Forrest took up a leadership position in the Klan because there is nothing about their message that is good or does any good for anyone. But then again he did buy and sell slaves, so I doubt that he ever viewed minorities as actual people, but instead viewed them as not even human.
Angel Torres
I am not familiar with the origins of the Ku Klux Klan, however after reading this article I received a good sense of when they were created and information on its initial leader. Its not surprising that the Ku Klux Klan began after the civil war, when the south was defeated and their way of life, including slavery, was threatened. The organization contains radicalized racist views that should’ve have stayed in the past. The article was brief, but was able to hit on key information regarding Forrest and his association with the KKK.
Luke Lopez
This was a very informative article on Nathan Bedford Forrest, and the origins of the KKK. I find it interesting that Forrest distanced himself from the KKK, because this group was growing very quickly and he would not be able to be the Grand Wizard anymore. It is good that Congress passed the Enforcement Acts to hold the KKK accountable for its egregious activities.
Indhira Mata
After reading the article it makes since of how Forrest had become KKK “leader” or its true founder. He was someone who had grown up in the role of leadership and that was very lethal. I do wonder why it was not mentioned in class who had started this ‘club’. I just assumed a group of people just did. This article gives the why he would have started this but it does not justify it.
Noah Bolhuis
It has always been so confusing on how the Klu Klux Klan grew to be so prominent. As a person who grew up 150 years after its creation, post Civil Right Movement, as growing up around many black people that were close to me, I had never understood the hatred. However, the movement and the whole group are fortunately shrinking, and that is a good thing for the entire country. And Forrest, obviously coming from a much different time, was misguided and very much misinformed, but that does not excuse what he did or the group’s actions.