In 1866, a group of confederate veterans started what is known today as the Ku Klux Klan. In 1867, local klans created an "Invisible Empire of the South". Nathan Bedford Forrest was chosen as the "grand wizard" of the klan. The KKK dedicated itself to reversing the policies of radical reconstruction and and restoring white supremacy in the South. During reconstruction, many symbols of black autonomy were attacked by KKK members. By 1870, The KKK was found in nearly every southern state and flourished where african americans were a minority. Due to the fear risen from the klan there was an enforcement act created named the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. This act enforced equal protection among all citizens. In 1915, there was a revival of the KKK and it reached its peak of 4 million members in the 1920s. In 1930s the klan was depleted due to the great depression. The KKK still exists today and estimates that there is about 6,000 members who are mainly in the deep South.
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