Why did the southern join the ku klux klan?

Answer 1

The KKK was a result of the civil war and emancipation of the slaves. The south didn't "join" the KKK they created it. The original KKK was called Night Riders and they formed to intimidate former slaves dressed as ghosts of civil war soldiers. As time went on the organization became quite powerful and became part of city and state governments, police departments, judges, congressmen joined. At one point in the 1920's they were so powerful they had a convention in Washington DC and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in their white robes. This was not a small gathering, but lines and lines of KKK members. Also in the 1924 presidential election a KKK member ran for president, but he had to drop out when it was discovered he had kid napped and raped a woman. To get away from him she committed sucide. In recent years the KKK lost some of its power, but hate never seems to totally die and the group has had a resurgence.

Answer 2

Because they felt like it.