Final answer:
Radical and reform groups worked together to address common social, economic, and political issues such as inequality and the challenges of the industrial era.
Step-by-step explanation:
Radical and reform groups often worked together because they faced common challenges and enemies, despite having differences in their ultimate goals and methods. During significant historical periods such as the Progressive Era and the New Deal, radical and reform movements both aimed to address social inequities and the problems generated by industrialization and economic hardship. Whether it was radical progressives seeking a complete overhaul of systems, or moderates desiring regulated changes, the unifying thread was the desire to confront and address the root causes of social problems.
Even among African American leaders like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, there was cooperation beneath their ostensibly different approaches, with Washington providing covert financial support for civil rights lawsuits even as he publicly advocated for vocational training.
Similarly, the New Deal Coalition brought together a diverse range of groups, including African Americans, other ethnic minorities, and organized labor. This coalition aimed to respond to the issues faced by these groups and relied on their combined electoral strength. The broad tent of the coalition was a strategic alliance formed to secure necessary reforms and address common concerns.