Which notable civil rights issue began to gain traction during the Radical Reconstruction period?

During the Radical Reconstruction period, the notable civil rights issue that gained significant traction was the push for suffrage for African American men. Following the Civil War, the United States underwent a transformation aimed at rebuilding the South and ensuring civil rights for the formerly enslaved population. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, specifically granted African American men the right to vote, which was a monumental step toward achieving political equality and civil rights.

This period was marked by heightened efforts to address profound inequalities and injustices faced by African Americans. Activists and politicians fought tirelessly to dismantle the systems of racial oppression that had prevailed before and during the war. The focus on suffrage was part of a broader agenda for civil rights that included the establishment of public schools, the right to bear arms, and equal protection under the law.

Meanwhile, the other choices reflect important social issues but did not become prominent civil rights issues during the Radical Reconstruction period. Labor rights, for instance, gained traction later in the 19th century as industrialization progressed, while immigration reform became a major focus in the early 20th century. Economic equality, while certainly relevant to the discussions surrounding the consequences of slavery and Reconstruction, was not articulated as a primary civil rights issue