What was the primary tactic of the Ku Klux Klan when it was founded in 1866?

The primary tactic of the Ku Klux Klan when it was founded in 1866 was violence and intimidation. The Klan emerged during the Reconstruction era in the South, a time when many white Southerners were resistant to the social changes brought about by the Civil War and the Reconstruction Amendments, which aimed to secure rights for newly freed African Americans. The Klan used acts of terror, including lynching, arson, and physical violence, as a means to instill fear in African Americans and those who supported their rights.

This violent approach was not only aimed at preventing African Americans from exercising their rights, such as voting or holding office, but also served to reassert white supremacy and restore the prewar social order. The Klan’s actions were a direct response to legislative changes and were designed to undermine the Federal government's efforts to enforce civil rights and maintain order in the South.

Political lobbying, social activism, and education reform do not accurately represent the violent and terror-driven methods that the Klan employed during its inception. These other options imply a focus on advocacy or community improvement, which contrasts sharply with the Klan's strategy of intimidation and violence.