Final answer:
The Radical Republicans were northern Republicans who pushed for a more equal society during the Reconstruction era. They worked with African Americans in the southern U.S. through organizations like the Union Leagues to support their rights and political empowerment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 'Radical Republicans' were a group of northern Republicans who advocated for a more equal society during the Reconstruction era from 1866-1877. They opposed President Andrew Johnson's lenient approach to Reconstruction and championed for harsher punishments for the Confederate states. The Radical Republicans worked with African Americans in the southern U.S. by pushing for policies that aimed to grant them rights and empower them politically.
One example of how the Radical Republicans worked with African Americans was through the Union Leagues, which were fraternal groups loyal to the Union and the Republican Party. These leagues served as political and civic centers for African Americans in the former Confederate states, providing support and organizing efforts to secure their rights and representation.