People of Radical Reconstruction
By Lauryn Woods and Jennifer Solis
Radical Republicans (Woods)
Radical Republicans first became a prominent political group when they split apart from the traditional Republican party as the Civil War ended. The moderate Republicans were willing to collaborate with a plan President Abraham Lincoln had created called the 10% plan in which 10% of a confederate states' male population had to pledge allegiance to the United States for the state to renter the Union. Meanwhile the Radicals refused to accept any less than 50% sworn allegiance for a state to renter.
The Radicals also strongly supported the freedom of all slaves. Radical Republican leaders such as Frederick Douglass convinced Lincoln to free the slaves and fought to ensure that once the war was over slaves had citizenship and equal rights.
The Radical Republicans' age of reconstruction came to an end with the rise of racist groups such as the Klu Klux Klan and the creation of many black codes. Though theair time of power came to an end, the Radical Republicans still influence of society today. They facilitated the most progressive periods of change America has ever seen.
Citations (Woods)
- Web. 02 May 2016
"Radical Republican Reconstruction Plan." United States History. N.p.,n.d.
- Web. 03 May 2016
"35b. Radical Reconstruction." U.S. History. N.p.,n.d.
- Web. 29 April 2016
Hiram Rhodes Revels (Jennifer)
When the Civil War started Rhodes sided with the Union and became a Chaplain. He also recruited African American soldiers for the Union. The US would later win the war and slavery would be abolished.
Rhodes was known for being the first African American US Congressman. He fought for equal rights for all African Americans. After the Civil War not everything got better for former slaves. Many "Jim Crow Laws" which were segregation laws and "Black Codes" which took away African American's rights made it impossible for African Americans to have a norman life. Rhodes fought for equal job opportunities and pay for these African Americans. Their protection was also an issue African Americans were often abused and not protected by the Government. Rhodes spoke up for them and gave them a voice.
After DC Rhodes came to become the first president of Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College, a historically black college.
Rhodes died on January 16,1901.He was buried in Holly Springs,Mississippi.