Final answer:
The secret organization that malfunctioned as a grassroots wing for radical Republicans in the South was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a white supremacist group initially formed as a fraternal society that evolved into a violent terrorist group intent on undermining Reconstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Malfunctioned Secret Organization in Radical Reconstruction:
The content loaded question refers to a secret organization that malfunctioned as the grassroots wing of the radical Republicans, mainly operating in the South. This organization is famously known as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), which was initially a fraternal group of Confederate veterans from Tennessee, becoming a notorious vigilante terrorist group. They were responsible for violence aimed at preserving white supremacy and intimidating Republican voters, thus undermining the Reconstruction efforts.Founded in 1866, with former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest as its first leader, the KKK's name is believed to originate from the Greek word kuklos, meaning circle. It included ranks such as Grand Wizard and Grand Dragon. The KKK, along with other similar organizations like the Redshirts and the White League, served as the de facto military wing of the Democratic Party in the South. They committed atrocities with the goal of overturning Reconstruction and restoring the antebellum social hierarchy.
The radical Republican's vision of Reconstruction was heavily contested by many southern White people, leading to movements like the Redeemers, who sought to 'redeem' the South from Northern influence and return to pre-Civil War social norms. By 1877, through the efforts of these organizations and individuals, the Radical Reconstruction came to an end as the Redeemers gained political power, a period known as the 'redemption' of the South.