How did the new state constitutions drafted during Radical Reconstruction expand public responsibilities and provide for equal rights?

The new state constitutions drafted during Radical Reconstruction significantly expanded public responsibilities and provided for equal rights in several ways:

1. Abolition of Slavery: The most significant change was the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1865, officially ended slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

2. Equal Rights: The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including former slaves—and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.” This was a major step towards ensuring equal rights for all, regardless of race or previous condition of servitude.

3. Voting Rights: The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the federal government and each state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". This was a significant expansion of democratic rights.

4. Public Education: Many of the new state constitutions included provisions for public education for the first time. This was a major expansion of public responsibilities, as it required the state to provide schooling for all children, regardless of their race or social status.

5. Expanded Role of Government: The new state constitutions also expanded the role of government in other ways, such as providing for welfare programs and public works. This represented a significant shift in the responsibilities of the state towards its citizens.

In summary, the new state constitutions drafted during Radical Reconstruction expanded public responsibilities and provided for equal rights by ending slavery, granting citizenship and voting rights to former slaves, establishing public education, and expanding the role of government in providing for the welfare of its citizens.