Ten Percent/Lincoln’s Plan Presidential Reconstruction/Johnston’s Plan Congressional Reconstruction/Military Reconstruction Acts

Early on, even before the civil war is finished, Lincoln realizes he needs to find a way to put the country back together. His reasons were simple. He needed the South’s plantations back up and running to supply the industries of the North. He knew that the longer it took to get everyone back together, the stronger the dislike would be and the longer it would take to get everyone back to feeling patriotic to one nation.

The proclamation addressed three main areas of concern. First, it allowed for a full pardon for and restoration of property to all engaged in the rebellion with the exception of the highest Confederate officials and military leaders. Second, it allowed for a new state government to be formed when 10 percent of the eligible voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States. Third, the Southern states admitted in this fashion were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the freed slaves so long as their freedom was not compromised.

Radical Republican s U.S. Congressional members Executiv e Branch

Believed South should be punished State should be treated as a conquered country Wade-Davis Bill- Lincoln viewed as Congress’s attempt to punish South Lincoln refused to sign bill into law Lincoln let the bill die quietly THIS WAS A SIGNAL THAT THERE WOULD BE A FIGHT OVER RECONSTRUCTION

When John Wilkes Booth kills Lincoln, this will put the vice President Andrew Johnson up to President. Andrew Johnson was from North Carolina. This is significant because as a Presidential running mate, Lincoln hoped Johnson would make him more appealing to the South. As a president who comes to power due to the assassination of Lincoln, who was very popular, by someone that claims to be a Southern sympathizer, his Southern heritage makes him suspect in many eyes.

1. All southerners (except high-ranking Confederate and military leaders as well as anyone that owned more than $200k worth of property) would be pardoned after taking oath of allegiance to the United States 2. When 10% of voters in each state had taken oath of loyalty state could re-enter the Union. 3. the Southern states admitted in this fashion were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the freed slaves so long as their freedom was not compromised.

Radical Republicans U.S. Congressional members Executiv e Branch

Radicals willing to work with Johnson (approved his plan to offer a reward for arrest of Jefferson Davis) Once Davis was captured and imprisoned, radicals turned attention back to Johnson’s plan/began disagreeing with it Afraid the freedmen would be disfranchised (have their voting rights taken away) Many thought the South deserved greater punishment.

1. Southern states had to approve the 13 th Amendment 2. Southern states had to nullify their ordinances of secession 3. Southern states had to promise not to repay the individuals and institutions that had helped finance the Confederacy

The North used the moral imperative to free the slaves as a rally point for the men to fight for, this then translated to something that had to be followed through with at the end of the war.

Obviously the North wanted the ordinances of secession not simply ignored but officially rescinded.

The northern congressional members wanted this for two reasons; 1. It was believed, and rightly so, that if the South did not pay back war debts, the ones that were able to help them would not be either able or inclined to do so ever again. 2. The lack of compensation for individuals that financed the war for the south would economically devastate them and serve as a means of punishment for the ones who did it.

Even though all along Congress tells Johnson they will support his plan if only he adds this or that, in the end they want things exactly their way (mainly for political reasons) and push things to where Johnson has to oppose them.

There is a shift in power from 1865 (when Lincoln was at the height of his power and popularity to 1868 when the radical Republicans simply sweep over any objections to their plans. It really changes starting in 1866 when the Republicans win sweeping victories in the North. Before any plan is enacted for reconstruction officially, President Lincoln and later Johnson will use the military to set up interim governments meant to transition the states back in the union.

Radical Republicans U.S. Congressiona l members Executiv e Branch

1868 Republicans in Congress decided to impeach Johnson “to charge someone with wrongdoings” If found guilty/could be removed from office Senate failed to remove Johnson from office by 1 vote/lost power to control Reconstruction policy

This will last until the compromise of Under these conditions, Congress will set and reset many times the pathway for states to re-enter the Union. The country will be placed under five military zones and martial law will be used to control the south. The main reason that the North will end Radical Reconstruction is the reason Lincoln wanted to avoid it in the first place. It just did not make good financial sense.