Final answer:
The Ku Klux Klan's goal after the Civil War was to restore white supremacy. They achieved this through terror and intimidation, targeting African Americans and sympathizers and impacting their rights and social status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main goal of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) immediately after the Civil War was to reestablish white supremacy in the South and reverse the progress made during Reconstruction. They aimed to restore the pre-war social order by keeping African Americans, and to a lesser extent 'low' whites, subjugated. The KKK achieved its aim through a campaign of terror, including intimidation, destruction of property, assault, lynching and murder against African Americans and those who supported their rights. They opposed Black economic independence, aimed to decimate Black political rights, and sought to maintain dominance over Black communities. The Klan, acting as an extension of the Democratic Party at the time, also worked to overturn Republican state governments and prevent African Americans from voting and improving their social status.