Who were the Redeemers, and what did they seek to accomplish after Reconstruction?

• A. White Southern Republicans aiming to restore white supremacy and reverse Reconstruction reforms.
• B. White Southern Democrats aiming to restore white supremacy and reverse Reconstruction reforms.
• C. Black veterans who advocated for land reform.
• D. Northern industrialists who wanted to end Reconstruction.

Answer: (B)

Redeemers were White Southern Democrats who sought to restore white supremacy and reverse Reconstruction reforms. After Reconstruction, these leaders aimed to regain political control in Southern states and roll back the civil and political gains Black people had won under Republican rule and federal protections. They worked to dismantle Reconstruction-era reforms, end federal oversight in the South, and reestablish the prewar social order. To accomplish this, they used a mix of political maneuvering, voter suppression, and intimidation or violence to disenfranchise Black voters, paving the way for Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and limited rights. Their broader goal was to redeem the South by restoring Democratic dominance and the dominance of white supremacy over politics and society.

This description fits the option because it centers on a White Southern Democratic coalition focused on undoing Reconstruction and reinstating white supremacy. It isn’t describing White Southern Republicans, Black veterans seeking land reform, or Northern industrialists, who do not capture the Redeemers’ identity or aims.