Name two prominent Radical Republicans and their roles in Congress.

• A. Thaddeus Stevens (House) and Charles Sumner (Senate).
• B. Andrew Johnson and Ulysses Grant.
• C. Rutherford B. Hayes and Horace Greeley.
• D. Salmon P. Chase and Oliver Morton.

Answer: (A)

Radical Republicans pushed for strong federal action to protect the rights of newly freed people and reshape Southern politics during Reconstruction. In the House, Thaddeus Stevens became the leading champion of that wing, using his influence and fierce legislative skill to drive through major Reconstruction measures and push for constitutional amendments that would guarantee civil rights. In the Senate, Charles Sumner led the Radical Republicans, guiding civil-rights legislation from the upper chamber and opposing leniency toward former Confederates, helping secure vital protections for freedpeople. This pairing—Stevens in the House and Sumner in the Senate—best represents the two most prominent Radical Republican leaders in Congress and explains why they’re the correct answer.