Which group largely controlled Congress during the Congressional Reconstruction phase?

During the Congressional Reconstruction phase, the group that largely controlled Congress was the Radical Republicans. This faction emerged after the Civil War, advocating for strong measures to ensure the rights of newly freed slaves and to impose strict requirements on Southern states before they could be readmitted to the Union. The Radical Republicans believed that the Reconstruction efforts needed to fundamentally reshape Southern society, ensuring equality and civil rights for African Americans.

Their influence led to significant legislative changes, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts, which aimed to enforce the rights of freedmen and oversee the rebuilding of Southern state governments. This period was marked by deep divisions in Congress, with Radical Republicans frequently clashing with more moderate factions and Democrats, who opposed many of their initiatives. The Radical Republicans' control was instrumental in pushing through a transformative agenda during Reconstruction, which sought to redefine citizenship and rights in a post-war America.