How did the Ku Klux Klan emerge during the Reconstruction era?

The emergence of the Ku Klux Klan during the Reconstruction era was fundamentally rooted in the desire to assert white supremacy and maintain the racial hierarchy that existed prior to the Civil War. Formed in the aftermath of the Civil War in 1865, the Klan arose in the South as a reaction against the federal government's efforts to extend civil rights to formerly enslaved individuals and to integrate them into society as equals.

By resorting to violence and intimidation, the Klan aimed to undermine the political, social, and economic advancements that African Americans were beginning to achieve during Reconstruction. The organization used terror tactics, including lynchings and threats, to instill fear among both Black individuals and white allies who supported Reconstruction efforts. This climate of fear was intended to restore white dominance and influence over Southern society, directly opposing the goals of Reconstruction that sought to promote equality and civil rights.