What type of organization was the Ku Klux Klan when it was founded in 1866?

When the Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866, it emerged initially as a social club composed primarily of Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee. The intention behind its formation was to create a recreational organization for these veterans, aiming to foster camaraderie and community among former Confederate soldiers. However, over time, the Klan transformed from a social group into a secretive organization that employed terror and violence to accomplish its agenda, which included the restoration of white supremacy and the suppression of African American civil rights during the Reconstruction era.

This transition marked a significant shift in the Klan's activities and goals, yet its origins as a social club are crucial to understanding its early identity before it evolved into a vehicle for racist ideologies and violent actions.