Question

Which of the following describes the power held by the federal government after the Civil War?

A. The power of the federal government remained unchanged after the war.
B. The federal government was weakened by the war.
C. The federal government would be more careful to grant the states more power going forward.
D. The federal government would increasingly play a role in American lives going forward

Answer 1

The best option would be that:

The federal government would increasingly play a role in American lives going forward.

Since it was clear that many laws (especially those regarding civil rights) needed to be rigidly enforced.

Step-by-step explanation:

Once the Civil War ended, the southern states were still not a part of the Union. The federal government was in charge of Reconstruction. These state legislatures had no say in the construction of these Reconstruction policies. The Civil War increased the power of the federal government.

Answer 2

The best option would be that "D. The federal government would increasingly play a role in American lives going forward," since it was clear that many laws (especially those regarding civil rights) needed to be rigidly enforced.