Final answer:
The greatest fear among southern whites was a slave rebellion that could disrupt society's racial hierarchy. To control this fear, they implemented paternalistic ideologies, the Ku Klux Klan, black codes, and promoted slavery as beneficial, preventing any disturbance to their dominance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The greatest fear shared by southern whites was the risk of a slave rebellion and the potential threats it posed to the established social order and their own safety. Concerns about the stability of a society heavily reliant on slave labor underpinned much of the racist ideology and practices that sought to suppress African Americans. To manage this concern, the southern states implemented a range of measures including the establishment of the paternalistic ideology to justify slavery, the enactment of black codes, the use of racial terrorism and domestic terror organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, and the defense of slavery as a positive good for both the economy and the alleged well-being of the enslaved.
These measures were designed to maintain control over the enslaved population and prevent any challenge to the status quo. Southern whites went to extensive lengths, both legally and illegally, to maintain their dominance and avoid the disintegration of the societal hierarchy that had long been in place due to the institution of slavery.