Question

What was significant about how the Ku Klux Klan gained power and influence in the south? Select the two that apply. (2 points)

1. It was a group of white Democrats who wanted to regain control of the government

2. The group was made up of Republicans who wanted to see peace between the North and the South

3. The group was funded by Northern politicians who wanted to stir up opposition in the South

4. The group influenced the voting behaviors of citizens though threats.

Answer 1

Two significant aspects of the Ku Klux Klan's rise to power were their alignment with white Democrats seeking to regain governmental control and their use of violence and intimidation to influence voting behavior, all focused on restoring white supremacy in the South.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Ku Klux Klan gained power and significance in the South after the Civil War primarily as a reactionary group opposed to the progressive changes during Reconstruction. Two significant aspects of how the Ku Klux Klan gained influence were:

1. It was a group of white Democrats who wanted to regain control of the government from the Republican majority that had been established during Reconstruction.
2. The group influenced the voting behaviors of citizens through threats and acts of violence, often preventing Republicans and African Americans from voting, thereby shifting political power.

The Ku Klux Klan functioned, in many cases, as an unofficial military wing of the Democratic Party in the South during this era. They used intimidation, violence, and even political assassination to thwart the efforts of Republicans and African Americans striving for equality and to maintain white supremacy in political, social, and economic arenas.