What term describes the faction of congressional Republicans who wanted to limit the power of former slaveholders after the Civil War?

The term that best describes the faction of congressional Republicans who sought to limit the power of former slaveholders after the Civil War is "Radical Republicans." This group emerged in the aftermath of the Civil War and was committed to establishing civil rights for freed slaves and ensuring their full participation in American society. They believed that the federal government should take an active role in reconstructing the South and guaranteeing the rights of African Americans.

Radical Republicans pushed for more stringent measures against former Confederate states and were instrumental in passing significant legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts. They aimed to transform Southern society and counteract the influence of those who had been involved in the Confederacy, believing that the newly freed slaves should be protected from potential oppression by their former masters.

Moderate Republicans, by contrast, advocated for a more lenient approach to Reconstruction and were less focused on dramatically transforming Southern society. Libertarian Republicans and Conservative Republicans did not specifically emerge as significant factions in relation to Reconstruction and the challenges following the Civil War, making them less relevant to the context of limiting the power of former slaveholders.