What was the stance of white Democrats toward Republican power during Reconstruction?

• A. They sought to remove Republicans from power quickly and permanently.
• B. They supported gradual reform and included Black voters in politics.
• C. They welcomed Republican rule as a stable framework.
• D. They advocated a system of shared power with Republicans.

Answer: (A)

White Democrats in the South, many forming the Redeemers, opposed Republican control during Reconstruction and worked to remove it quickly and permanently. They aimed to restore white supremacy and roll back the reforms that followed the Civil War, using political organizing, state-level power grabs, and coercive tactics to disenfranchise Black voters and undermine Republican governments. This approach stands in contrast to ideas of gradual reform, inclusive politics, or shared power, which did not reflect the Republicans’ and their allies’ position in this era.