Which group predominantly opposed President Johnson's approach to Reconstruction?

The group that predominantly opposed President Johnson's approach to Reconstruction was the Radical Republicans. This faction believed that Johnson's policies were too lenient toward the South and did not adequately protect the rights of newly freed African Americans. The Radical Republicans advocated for a more robust and transformative approach to Reconstruction, including civil rights legislation and the enforcement of the 14th and 15th Amendments, which aimed to ensure equal protection under the law and voting rights for African American men.

Radical Republicans were frustrated by Johnson's leniency, particularly his opposition to the Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Rights Act, which they viewed as necessary measures to secure the future of African Americans in the post-war South. This conflict between Johnson and the Radical Republicans ultimately led to a significant political struggle and the impeachment of Johnson.

In contrast, Moderate Republicans generally supported a more conciliatory approach to Reconstruction and sought a balance between transformation and restoration. Democrats, who were predominantly from the South at the time, opposed Reconstruction policies altogether, believing they infringed on states' rights and were punitive toward Southern states. Southern plantation owners had their own interests that aligned with maintaining their social and economic status; however, they did not form a cohesive political faction in opposition to Johnson's policies in the same way