Radical Republicans

Definition

Radical Republicans were a faction of the Republican Party during the Reconstruction Era who advocated for strict policies against former Confederate states and sought to secure civil rights for freed slaves. They believed in a more aggressive approach to reconstruction.

Related terms

Freedmen's Bureau: An organization established by Congress in 1865 to provide assistance to newly freed slaves, including education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Civil Rights Act of 1866: This act granted citizenship rights and equal protection under the law to all individuals born in the United States, regardless of race or color.

Fourteenth Amendment: Added to the Constitution in 1868, this amendment granted equal protection under the law to all citizens and defined who qualified as a citizen.