Compares the Civil War Reconstruction plans of Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, and the Congress of the time.
A Comparison of the Lincoln, Johnson, and Congressional Plans for Civil War Reconstruction
After the Civil War, a great question arose. That question was what was to be done with the former Confederate States of Americas (CSA). Although there were a number of ways to address this critical issue, there were three major attempts: Lincoln's, Johnson's, and Congress's. All three of them wanted to politically restore the USA, but did not pay much attention to the economic and social stability of the South. The Lincoln, Johnson, and Congressional plans for Civil War reconstruction all wanted to restore the Union, but they each differed in a few critical aspects.
When the CSA was defeated, two questions arose. Are the formerly seceded states still a part of the Union, and who is responsible for the reconstruction of the country? Each plan answered these questions in its own way.
Lincoln felt that the rebellious states were always a part of the USA; that they had never left. He also felt that it was the President's sole responsibility to reconstruct the nation. He planned to make his own rules regarding the restoration, and that Congress would not impede upon them. He promised amnesty to all southerners who would make a pledge of loyalty to the United States. He also planned to recognize each state's government when ten percent of the ante-bellum electorate took the pledge and promised to give up slavery. However, the leaders of the Confederacy were excluded from this process temporarily.
Although Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee began to conform to the President's terms, Congress found the proposition to be unacceptable. It felt that the proposition didn't protect freed slaves enough, and was too lax with its punishment. Congress also felt that the Confederate states had left the Union, and were now conquered areas. Congress thought that it was in charge of overseeing the re-absorption of the states.
In July of 1864, the Wade-Davis Bill was passed. It stated that a
After the Civil War, a great question arose. That question was what was to be done with the former Confederate States of Americas (CSA). Although there were a number of ways to address this critical issue, there were three major attempts: Lincoln's, Johnson's, and Congress's. All three of them wanted to politically restore the USA, but did not pay much attention to the economic and social stability of the South. The Lincoln, Johnson, and Congressional plans for Civil War reconstruction all wanted to restore the Union, but they each differed in a few critical aspects.
When the CSA was defeated, two questions arose. Are the formerly seceded states still a part of the Union, and who is responsible for the reconstruction of the country? Each plan answered these questions in its own way.
Lincoln felt that the rebellious states were always a part of the USA; that they had never left. He also felt that it was the President's sole responsibility to reconstruct the nation. He planned to make his own rules regarding the restoration, and that Congress would not impede upon them. He promised amnesty to all southerners who would make a pledge of loyalty to the United States. He also planned to recognize each state's government when ten percent of the ante-bellum electorate took the pledge and promised to give up slavery. However, the leaders of the Confederacy were excluded from this process temporarily.
Although Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee began to conform to the President's terms, Congress found the proposition to be unacceptable. It felt that the proposition didn't protect freed slaves enough, and was too lax with its punishment. Congress also felt that the Confederate states had left the Union, and were now conquered areas. Congress thought that it was in charge of overseeing the re-absorption of the states.
In July of 1864, the Wade-Davis Bill was passed. It stated that a