A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the primary aim of Radical Reconstruction?

1. To promote Southern independence

2. To reform the South and increase federal power

3. To strengthen slavery in the South

4. To facilitate Southern resistance

The correct answer is: To reform the South and increase federal power

The primary aim of Radical Reconstruction was indeed to reform the South and increase federal power. Following the Civil War, there was a widespread belief among Radical Republicans that the Southern states needed to be fundamentally transformed to ensure equality for freed slaves and to prevent former Confederates from regaining political power. This period saw the imposition of new laws and regulations designed to integrate formerly enslaved people into society as citizens with rights, as well as efforts to rebuild the Southern economy and infrastructure under federal oversight. To achieve these aims, Congress passed key legislation, such as the Reconstruction Acts, which divided the South into military districts governed by federal troops. This was a significant increase in federal involvement in Southern affairs and was meant to enforce civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals. So, in this context, the focus was primarily on ensuring the rights of African Americans and making changes that would prevent the resurgence of the old Confederate power structures. The other options do not align with the goals of Radical Reconstruction. Promoting Southern independence would have been counterproductive to the efforts aimed at reunification and transformation. Strengthening slavery contradicts the fundamental principles that guided Radical Reconstruction, which sought to abolish the institution and protect the rights of freedmen. Facilitating Southern resistance would have undermined