What was the purpose of the Ku Klux Klan as it emerged after the Civil War?

The Ku Klux Klan emerged after the Civil War primarily to resist Reconstruction-era policies that aimed to integrate formerly enslaved individuals into society as equal citizens. The organization sought to undermine the federal government's efforts to enforce civil rights and to restore white supremacy in the Southern states. By using violence and intimidation, the Klan aimed to suppress black political participation and maintain the existing social order of racial hierarchy and segregation. Through acts of terror, such as lynching and other forms of intimidation, the Klan worked to destabilize the progress made during Reconstruction, ultimately contributing to the systemic discrimination that persisted long after the era ended. This historical context highlights how the Klan's actions directly opposed the goals of Reconstruction, making the resistance to these policies their primary purpose.