Which of the following was a contributing factor to the formation of the Ku Klux Klan in 1865?

The formation of the Ku Klux Klan in 1865 was heavily influenced by a climate of discontent with the social changes that followed the Civil War. In the wake of the war, many white southerners felt threatened by the newfound rights and political power being granted to African Americans. The Reconstruction era brought significant changes, including the passage of amendments that aimed to secure citizenship and voting rights for formerly enslaved people. This shift challenged the prewar social order and created fear and resentment among segments of the white population who viewed these changes as a direct attack on their way of life.

The Klan emerged as a response to this fear, serving as a vigilante group that sought to restore what its members perceived as racial and social normalcy by using intimidation, violence, and terror against African Americans and their allies. The Klan's activities were fueled by a desire to reestablish white supremacy and undermine the progress made during Reconstruction.

In contrast, the success of Southern Reconstruction policies, the rise of African American political leaders, and the establishment of federal law enforcement agencies did not contribute to the Klan's formation in a meaningful way; rather, they represented the very changes the Klan sought to resist and overturn.