The Radical Republicans were a faction of American politicians within the Republican Party of the United States from around 1854 (before the American Civil War) until the end of Reconstruction in 1877. They called themselves "Radicals" and were opposed during the War by the Moderate Republicans (led by President Abraham Lincoln), by the conservative Republicans, and the largely pro-slavery and later anti-Reconstruction Democratic Party, as well as by conservatives in the South and liberals in the North during Reconstruction.[1] Radicals strongly opposed slavery during the war and after the war distrusted ex-Confederates, demanding harsh policies for punishing the former rebels, and emphasizing equality, civil rights, and voting rights for the "freedmen" (recently freed slaves).[2]
During the war, Radical Republicans often opposed Lincoln in terms of selection of generals (especially his choice of DemocratGeorge B. McClellan for top command of the major eastern Army of the Potomac) and his efforts to bring seceded Southern states back into the Union as quickly and easily as possible. The Radicals passed their own reconstruction plan through the Congress in 1864, but Lincoln vetoed it and was putting his own presidential policies in effect by virtue as military commander-in-chief when he was assassinated in April 1865.[3] Radicals pushed for the uncompensated abolition of slavery, while Lincoln wanted to pay slave owners who were loyal to the Union. After the war, the Radicals demanded civil rights for freedmen, such as measures ensuring suffrage. They initiated the various Reconstruction Acts, and limited political and voting rights for ex-Confederate civil officials, military officers and soldiers. They bitterly fought President Andrew Johnson; they weakened his powers and attempted to remove him from office through impeachment, which failed by one vote in 1868.
The new religion, even containing points that favored the nobiliarchic power, was also responsible for inciting a series of popular revolts against the established order. During this period, several lands were invaded and churches were sacked by the Germans. Condemning the insurgent movements, Luther supported the seigniorial forces that repressed the movement.
“Colonists faced challenges” I think
Bear arms <span>Practice their chosen religion
Protest government actions</span><span>Be protected from unwarranted search of their home
Refuse to house soldiers during peace time</span>
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two great Enlightenment thinkers that influenced political philosophy. One difference between these two philosophers is that <u>John Locke</u> believed that in order to live in a healthier society, people had to transfer some of their rights to a limited government in a "Social Contract." Under this contract, the government had to be elected and changed by the people whenever they deemed it necessary, and it also had to protect people's right to life, freedom, and property.
<u>Thomas Hobbes</u>, on the other hand, believed in establishing a social contract and promoted the idea that all individuals had to cede their natural rights to an absolute government in order to live in a better and orderly society, even meaning that people had to accept abuses (<em>The island scenario illustrates Hobbes' ideas).</em>
