Very easy explanation: the original incarnation formed in 1865 with no political agenda. The one we all have become acquainted with was from 1866-1869 under Forrest.
Two different iterations.
Three when referring to the period after Birth of a Nation which was a continuation from the second iteration.
This is false. Every historian and scholar knows this. During that time, even more so than now -- whites controlled the media outlets -- especially in the South. They would print ANYTHING to downplay the demonic violence during Reconstruction - right after Emancipation.
Everything about the Klan was about a political agenda and maintaining white supremacy. You can not be serious? Please pick up a damn book. The first KLAN was the same as the second coming -- yet the second coming was more out and loud with their shyt.
They were killing our ancestors for demanding pay for work. They were killing them for not working for free. They were killing them for just existing.
That is why many of the USCT came back were arming themselves -- and they were coming in taking their guns.
They were popping up to protect themselves from Whites - who were apart of the Klan but wouldn't claim membership - as it wasn't need to do so. They all wanted the same things.