What did the Reconstruction Act of 1867 intend to accomplish in the South?

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 aimed to enforce federal control and protect civil rights in the South following the Civil War. It was part of a series of measures designed to reshape Southern society and governance after the Confederacy's defeat. This act required Southern states to create new constitutions that guaranteed the right to vote for African American men and to ratify the 14th Amendment, which aimed at providing citizenship and equal protection under the law.

By placing Southern states under military rule, the act sought to ensure compliance with these new standards and the protection of civil rights, effectively curbing the influence of those who had upheld slavery and the Confederacy. This federal oversight was crucial in helping to rebuild a society that had maintained systemic racism and disenfranchisement prior to the war. The intent of the Reconstruction Act was to promote change and safeguard the rights of newly freed individuals, making the choice that reflects these ambitions the most accurate.