What group opposed Radical Reconstruction and its goals?

The group that opposed Radical Reconstruction and its goals was the Southern Democrats. This political faction emerged in response to the aggressive policies of Radical Republicans, who aimed to transform Southern society in the aftermath of the Civil War, particularly through the protection of the rights of newly freed slaves and the establishment of civil rights. Southern Democrats were largely composed of former Confederates and their sympathizers, who resisted these changes and sought to maintain their traditional social order and political power.

Southern Democrats opposed key elements of Radical Reconstruction that aimed to ensure African American participation in governance and promote equality. Their resistance was characterized by the formation of groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, which sought to intimidate African Americans and their allies. This opposition played a significant role in the eventual retreat from Reconstruction policies and the establishment of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation.

The other groups listed, such as Radical Republicans and Abolitionists, actively supported or advocated for the changes brought about by Reconstruction. Moderate Republicans, while they may have had reservations about some of the more extreme measures taken by Radical Republicans, did not outright oppose the fundamental goals of Reconstruction in the way that Southern Democrats did.