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Which one of the following groups was not part of the southern coalition supporting Radical Reconstruction? A) businessmen interested in government funding B) poor white farmers from upland regions C) newly enfranchised African Americans D) white planters E) "scalawags"

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The group that was not part of the southern coalition supporting Radical Reconstruction was D) white planters.

During the era of Radical Reconstruction, which followed the American Civil War, a coalition of groups emerged in the South that supported the efforts to rebuild and transform the region after the abolition of slavery. This coalition aimed to promote civil rights for African Americans, implement political and economic reforms, and ensure the protection of their rights.

The groups that formed part of this coalition included:

A) Businessmen interested in government funding: Many businessmen in the South recognized the economic benefits of infrastructure development and government investment. They saw the potential for growth and prosperity by supporting Reconstruction policies that would bring about improvements in transportation, education, and other areas.

B) Poor white farmers from upland regions: Some poor white farmers from upland regions supported Radical Reconstruction, as they saw opportunities for economic advancement and relief from political domination by the elite planter class. They believed that policies aimed at land redistribution and agrarian reforms could bring them greater economic equality.

C) Newly enfranchised African Americans: African Americans, who had been emancipated from slavery and granted citizenship and voting rights through the Reconstruction amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments), were a crucial part of the coalition. They actively participated in politics, formed civic organizations, and sought to secure and exercise their newly gained rights.

E) "Scalawags": The term "scalawags" referred to Southern whites who supported the Republican Party during Reconstruction. These individuals, who were often seen as traitors by some white Southerners, included former Whigs, Unionists, and other individuals who sought to promote racial equality, economic development, and political change in the South.

So, the group that was not part of the southern coalition supporting Radical Reconstruction was D) white planters. Many white planters resisted the reforms of Radical Reconstruction and sought to maintain their social and economic dominance in the post-war South.

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