Who were Radical Republicans?

• A. Republicans in Congress looking to punish the South and create an equitable society led by Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens
• B. Southern Democrats opposing Reconstruction
• C. Moderate Republicans seeking quick reconciliation
• D. Federalists pushing for strong central government

Answer: (A)

Radical Republicans were a faction in Congress during Reconstruction who believed the federal government should actively reshape the South and secure full rights for newly freed people. They pushed for punishment of the former Confederacy and for strong, nationwide protections for African Americans, arguing that reconstruction must be led by Congress and backed by federal power rather than left to the President. Leaders like Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens championed civil rights legislation and measures such as the later amendments and acts that extended citizenship and equal protection, sometimes using federal troops to enforce them. This stance set them apart from Southern Democrats who resisted Reconstruction, from moderate Republicans who favored a quicker return to normalcy, and from Federalists who belonged to an earlier era and different political context.