How did Stevens policy punish the south?

Stevens' policy, primarily through the Reconstruction Acts, aimed to punish the South by imposing military rule and requiring Southern states to draft new constitutions that guaranteed civil rights for freed slaves. This included the requirement for states to ratify the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection under the law. Additionally, Southern states faced restrictions on their political power and were often forced to allow African Americans to participate in the political process, undermining the pre-war social order. Overall, these measures were intended to prevent former Confederates from regaining power and to ensure the rights of newly freed individuals.