Question

What does Radical mean? Do you Thaddeus Stevens and the Radical Republicans would be considered radical today? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Radical means retaining focus on what one assumes to be correct despite the views of other members of a defined group; this is also determined by the shreds of evidence given in the article. Leaders like Johnson and Lincoln never compromised their beliefs on what they thought to be correct (Karell, Daniel, and Michael, 744). Johnson insisted that the Southerners tear up the secession articles and adopt the 13^th Amendment; when residents ignored, he jailed them and later pardoned those that rebelled except the rich who had to seek pardon personally. Thaddeus Stevens and other radical leaders would be categorized as radicals in current society. The leaders may be compelled to enact policies to fulfill their set targets; however, at the initial stages of collecting views, subjects are not forced to align with leaders' views.

Additionally, non-judicial jailing is prohibited in modern societies. Any disregard for the law results in police officers' arrest and later availed to court where charges are read, and appropriate punishment is accorded. Judicial application of law applies equally, regardless of the social status in the society. The incidence of releasing some of the persons jailed to let the rich seek to pardon personally is viewed as a violation of rights and improper utilization of the presidential mandate. The racial discrimination and selective application of law proved radicalism by the American leaders (Galland et al., 17).  Notably, today's society would consider Johnson and other leaders as radicals due to injustices that they promoted instead of just applying the law, eradicating racial discrimination, and incorporating democracy.

 

Radical means retaining focus on what one assumes to be correct despite the views of other members of a defined group; this is also determined by the shreds of evidence given in the article.