The primary goal of the Radical Republicans' reform programs during the Reconstruction era was to secure civil rights and political equality for formerly enslaved African Americans and to maintain their freedom after the Civil War. They aimed to transform Southern society, ensuring that the newly freed population could participate fully in civic life, including the right to vote, access to education, and other civil liberties.
Radical Republicans sought to impose strict measures on the Southern states to ensure their compliance with these goals. This involved passing legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts, which set the terms for readmitting Southern states into the Union, including the requirement to guarantee voting rights for Black men. Their overarching aim was to fundamentally reshape Southern society and prevent the re-establishment of the pre-war social order based on racial inequality.