Which statement best describes the federal government’s response to racial violence in the south in the late 1800s? the federal government kept the military in the south to stop racial violence until the expense became too great. the federal government never sent troops to maintain order in the south in the years after the civil war. the federal government made the protection of african americans in the south a top priority and maintained a military presence. the federal government pulled out troops from the south at the end of reconstruction, leaving african americans unprotected.