Answer: The group that pushed hardest for strong protections for emancipated slaves' civil rights was the Radical Republicans in Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
They advocated for equal rights and protections for emancipated slaves and passed important legislation such as the Reconstruction Amendments, which abolished slavery and granted equal protection under the law. They also passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and supported the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency that assisted newly freed slaves in their transition to freedom. Overall, the Radical Republicans played a crucial role in advocating for civil rights for emancipated slaves during the Reconstruction era.