October 1871

President Grant suspended habeas corpus in nine York County, South Carolina counties on October 17, 1871, the only peacetime use of this power in American history. Federal troops arrested hundreds of Klan members. U.S. Circuit Court prosecutions resulted in conviction of roughly 60 Klan leaders. The prosecutions suppressed Klan activity significantly in South Carolina, but the political will to maintain this level of enforcement was not sustained beyond 1872.

Under the KKK Act, President Grant suspended habeas corpus in nine York County, SC counties on Oct. 17, 1871 — the only peacetime use of this power in American history. Federal troops arrested hundreds of Klan members. Roughly 60 Klan leaders were convicted in federal circuit court. The prosecutions substantially suppressed Klan violence in SC, but enforcement was not sustained beyond 1872.