Radical Reconstruction

Radical Reconstruction was a period after the Civil War (1865-1877) when the U.S. government took strong actions to rebuild and reform the Southern states. Its goal was to ensure civil rights for newly freed African Americans and reshape Southern society. Radical Republicans in Congress pushed for strict requirements, such as granting voting rights to Black men and creating new governments in the South that were more inclusive. This period faced significant resistance from many Southern whites, leading to conflicts and violence, and eventually ended with the withdrawal of federal troops, allowing local governments to reassert control and roll back some reforms.