The Ku Klux Klan and it's impact on the civil rights movement?

Before I begin I would like to press the fact that I am NOT racist never was and never will be. But I am doing a project for school and I want to know a little more about this 'secret society' and its aims, goals and whatever because I've never fully understood the groups motives. I am just curious after reading from local news a statement made by one of the leaders of the KKK that if Obama got the president-elect there would most definately be a race war. Though I live in Ireland I've been following the election closely for the last few months and I will admit if it hadn't been for Sarah Palin I would have been rooting for Mc Cain. So what are peoples views on the KKK? Any rare information. I know the KKK though keeping their heads down are still very much in existance just like our own I.R.A what I want to know is Why?