Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

The Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. They believed that President Andrew Johnson's policies towards the Southern states were too lenient and did not adequately address the needs for civil rights and social justice for freed slaves. This group advocated for a more stringent approach, which included measures such as stricter requirements for Southern states to regain representation in Congress, the protection of civil rights for African Americans, and federal intervention to enforce these rights.

Their discontent with Johnson's plan stemmed from a fear that without robust federal oversight, Southern states would quickly revert to pre-war attitudes and practices, undermining the progress towards equality. The Radical Republicans aimed to reshape the South and secure the rights of the newly freed African American population through legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts, reflecting their commitment to social change and equal rights.