"They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti is a historical nonfiction book aimed at young adults. It explores the origins and rise of the Ku Klux Klan after the American Civil War in 1865. The book provides a detailed account of the social and political climate of the time, highlighting the fear and racism that fueled the Klan's actions. It also examines the broader impact of the Klan on American society and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. " "We promise to: protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppresed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers. " -Vow of the Ku Klux Klansmen " - back cover