Which groups opposed Radical Reconstruction in the South?

• A. Northern Republicans and Freedmen.
• B. Southern Democrats, Confederates, and Redeemers.
• C. Nonpartisan groups with no political stance.
• D. Black officeholders.

Answer: (B)

Opposition to Radical Reconstruction in the South came from Southern whites who had supported the Confederacy and wanted to restore white political dominance. The Southern Democrats, many former Confederates, formed the Redeemers to overturn Reconstruction policies, reclaim state governments, and disenfranchise Black voters. They challenged federal authority and resisted the new social order that included civil rights protections for freedpeople. In contrast, Northern Republicans and Freedmen supported Reconstruction, and Black officeholders were generally beneficiaries and leaders within the Reconstruction framework.