That and the fact of general lawlessness attendant on the dissolution of the state governments was the actual spur for the rise of the KKK. Of course, when things like that start, their continuing trajectories are not necessarily consistent with their foundings. When a problem ends the organization formed in response to the problem does not dissolve, it finds other causes or scams to keep itself in existence. Consider Mothers Against Drunk Driving or March of Dimes. Some of their new enthusiasms are worthy, many are not.
“When a problem ends the organization formed in response to the problem does not dissolve, it finds other causes or scams to keep itself in existence.”
You’re describing just about any bureaucracy. Often, even if the problem doesn’t dissolve, it’s own benefit becomes the main goal of the organization/bureaucracy.