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'''Radical Republicans''' were members of the [[Republican Party]] in the era of the [[American Civil War]] and [[reconstruction]]. They took the lead in demanding the abolition of [[slavery]] and worked to ensure that Freedmen (freed slaves) would have complete equality with white citizens. In addition, they believed that punitive measures should be taken against the Southern States for seceding from the Union.  The Radicals demanded, and sometimes got, more vigorous prosecution of the war against the Confederacy and a quicker end to slavery.  They often opposed [[Abraham Lincoln]], the leaders of the moderate republicans.  The Radicals vehemently opposed President [[Andrew Johnson]]. They were reluctant to readmit the white South to full status during Reconstruction, and concentrated on giving civil rights, and the right to vote,, to Freedmen (freed slaves). After Reconstruction collapsed in 1877 the remaining Radicals formed the "Stalwart" faction of the Republican Party.  On economic issues, most were conservative and business-oriented.

'''Radical Republicans''' were members of the [[Republican Party]] in the era of the [[American Civil War]] and [[reconstruction]]. They took the lead in demanding the abolition of [[slavery]] and worked to ensure that Freedmen (freed slaves) would have complete equality with white citizens. In addition, they believed that punitive measures should be taken against the Southern States for seceding from the Union.  The Radicals demanded, and sometimes got, more vigorous prosecution of the war against the Confederacy and a quicker end to slavery.  They often opposed [[Abraham Lincoln]], the leaders of the moderate republicans.  The Radicals vehemently opposed President [[Andrew Johnson]]. They were reluctant to readmit the white South to full status during Reconstruction, and concentrated on giving civil rights, and the right to vote,, to Freedmen (freed slaves). After Reconstruction collapsed in 1877 the remaining Radicals formed the "Stalwart" faction of the Republican Party.  On economic issues, most were conservative and business-oriented.

The main leaders were Representative [[Thaddeus Stevens]] of Pennyslvania and Senator [[Charles Sumner]] of Massachusetts.   

The main leaders were Representative [[Thaddeus Stevens]] of Pennyslvania and Senator [[Charles Sumner]] of Massachusetts.   

They were not a [[political party]], but more of a faction in the states, and an informal grouping among the Republicans in [[Congress]]. They began their rise to prominence in 1854, and after the election of 1860, they became a true force to be reckoned with when several of their members were given key committee chairmanships: Thaddeus Stevens (Ways and Means), Owen Lovejoy (Agriculture), James Ashley (Territories), Henry W. Davis (Foreign Relations), George W. Julian (Public Lands), Elihu Washburne (Commerce) and Henry Wilson (Judiciary).

The Radicals vigorously pushed fellow Republican, President [[Abraham Lincoln]] during the [[Civil War]] when they thought he was not moving fast enough to destroy slavery or recruit Blacks for the Army.  

The Radical Republicans were not at all reticent to criticize their fellow Republican, President [[Abraham Lincoln]] during the [[Civil War]] when they thought he wasn't moving fast enough recruiting Blacks for the [[Army]] and Lincoln's disciplinary action against General [[John C. Fremont]]. After the Civil War they were also critical of Lincoln's [[Reconstruction]] Plan.

They were the great enemies of President [[Andrew Johnson]], and after a sweeping victory in the Congressional elections of 1866 they had the votes to over-ride Johnson's vetoes and impose their own policies for Reconstruction. They tried twice to impeach Johnson, but failed by one vote.

Radical Republicans in Congress urged President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to take action against the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. After a campaign led by Oliver Morton and Benjamin Butler, Grant agreed in 1870 to launch an investigation into the organization, and the following year a grand jury reported that:  

Radical Republicans in Congress urged President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to take action against the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. After a campaign led by Oliver Morton and Benjamin Butler, Grant agreed in 1870 to launch an investigation into the organization, and the following year a grand jury reported that: