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Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction

Definition

This refers to the period following the Civil War when Radical Republicans in Congress took control of Reconstruction policies. They aimed at ensuring equal rights for freed slaves, punishing former Confederates, and preventing them from regaining power.

Analogy

Imagine if after losing a game, your team gets to make all new rules aiming at ensuring you win next time. That's kind of what happened during Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction - they changed rules (laws) so that those who had been oppressed (freed slaves) could have more opportunities while those who had been oppressors (Confederates) would be limited.

Related terms

14th Amendment: An amendment granting citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and slaves who had been emancipated after the American Civil War.

Reconstruction Acts: These were a series of laws that divided the South into five military districts, each governed by a Union general, in order to protect the rights of freed slaves.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: This was an attempt by Radical Republicans to remove President Johnson from office due to his lenient approach towards Southern states during Reconstruction.