During the 1870s, a political coalition in the American South known as the 'Redeemers' sought to influence the region's post-Civil War transition. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of this coalition?
- To reclaim local political control of Southern state governments and restore the antebellum social orderAnswer
- BTo enforce the provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment by ensuring equal protection under the law for freedmen
- CTo carry out the military occupation of the South under the legislative authority of President Andrew Johnson
- DTo unite agrarian workers across racial lines to regulate railroad monopolies and lower tariffs
Answer
To reclaim local political control of Southern state governments and restore the antebellum social order
The correct answer describes the primary goal of the Redeemers, who were a coalition of Southern Democrats who aimed to overthrow Republican-led state governments in the South, roll back the political gains made by African Americans, and restore white democratic control and traditional social structures.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Redeemer movement and the political resistance to Reconstruction in the South