Who were the Radical Republicans?

The Radical Republicans were indeed a faction that supported strict Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. This group emerged during the 1860s as part of the Republican Party and advocated for significant changes in the South to ensure equal rights for newly freed African Americans. They believed that more stringent measures were necessary to protect the rights and civil liberties of freedmen, as well as to reshape Southern society.

Their approach was characterized by a push for the passage of the Reconstruction Acts, which involved military oversight in the South and required states to ratify the 14th Amendment to regain representation in Congress. The Radical Republicans aimed to dismantle the old Southern power structures that had upheld slavery and to promote civil rights and suffrage for former slaves, making their position critical in shaping the trajectory of post-war America.

The other answer choices do not accurately reflect the role or beliefs of the Radical Republicans, as they sought not to oppose the Civil War or support slavery, nor were they focused on westward expansion. Their primary concern was the Reconstruction process and ensuring that the rights of African Americans were recognized and protected in the aftermath of the Civil War.