The primary focus of Radical Reconstruction policies, implemented after the Civil War, was to ensure the civil rights and integration of formerly enslaved individuals into American society.

Radical Republicans sought to transform Southern society by promoting equal rights, voting access, and political participation for freedmen. This included passing the Reconstruction Acts, which divided the South into military districts and required states to ratify the 14th Amendment. The aim was to create a more equitable society, although these efforts faced significant resistance and ultimately led to long-lasting conflicts over civil rights.