Some of the Southern States began to go Democratic in spite of the Reconstruction Acts and the Amendments, and there was little doubt that the Ku Klux movement had aided in this change.

In order to preserve the achievements of radical reconstruction Congress passed, in 1870 and 1871, the enforcement acts which had been under debate for nearly two years.

The first act (May 31, 1870) was designed to protect the Negro's right to vote and was directed at individuals as well as against states.

Section six, indeed, was aimed specifically at the Ku Klux Klan.

This act was a long step in the direction of giving the Federal Government control over state elections.