The Memphis Riot of 1866 took place due to hostile race relations as a result of the Civil War and reconstruction. Tennessee was the first state to be re-admitted to the Union following the war but the state remained severely divided on the issue of slavery regardless of the outcome of the war. Memphis also had a unique population of about 21,000 whites (Former Union soldiers, government agents, northern merchants, native southerners) and 14,000 blacks (primarily ex-slaves). The riot in 1866 took place as a result of an altercation between 6 Memphis police officers and a small group of people protesting the arrest of 2 members of the black community. 46 blacks were killed in the altercation and more than $50,000 worth of damage to black communtiy buildings took place. Partially because of the riot, Tennessee became a strong hold for the Ku Klux Klan.