1. Lynchings: Lynching was a brutal and common form of racial terror used by the KKK. African-Americans were often falsely accused of crimes or minor offenses and then subjected to public hangings or other forms of mob violence. These lynchings aimed to instill fear, suppress dissent, and enforce white supremacy.
2. Cross Burnings: The KKK frequently burned crosses on the lawns or properties of African-Americans or in public places as a form of intimidation. Cross burnings were meant to serve as a warning and a symbol of white domination.
3. Whippings and Beatings: KKK members would often abduct African-Americans and subject them to physical violence, including whippings, beatings, and torture. These acts were meant to inflict pain, instill fear, and maintain control over the African-American community.
4. Threats and Intimidation: The KKK used various forms of threats to instill fear and prevent African-Americans from exercising their rights. They might threaten violence, job loss, or other forms of retaliation against individuals or their families.
5. Economic Coercion: The KKK sometimes used economic pressure to intimidate African-Americans. They might target African-American businesses, deny employment opportunities, or pressure landowners to evict African-American tenants.
6. Political Disenfranchisement: The KKK worked to disenfranchise African-Americans by preventing them from exercising their right to vote. This involved implementing restrictive voting laws, using violence to deter voter participation, and intimidating African-American voters.
7. School and Church Attacks: In some cases, the KKK attacked African-American schools and churches, which served as vital institutions for the African-American community. These attacks aimed to disrupt education, religious worship, and community cohesion.
Through these methods of intimidation and violence, the KKK aimed to suppress the civil rights movement, maintain racial segregation, and exert control over African-Americans. These acts of terror aimed to instill fear, suppress dissent, and reinforce the oppressive social structures of the time.