Reconstruction Plans

Reconstruction plans were aimed at reintegrating the Confederate States into the Union and defining African American rights post-Civil War.

Andrew Johnson's Ascendancy
- Selected as Abraham Lincoln's vice president in 1864.
- Lincoln aimed for Southern reconciliation, particularly targeting the border states during his election.
- Johnson became president after Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865.
- Political Affiliation: Jacksonian Democrat, advocating for strict constructionism and states' rights.

Goal: To facilitate the rebuilding of the South and the re-establishment of state governance.
Pardon Policy: Offered to most Confederates who swore an oath of allegiance to the United States, excluding high military officials and civil officers.
Conditions for State Governance:
- Southern states needed to recognize the permanent abolition of slavery.
- Required a minimum of 10% of male voters in a state (e.g., South Carolina) to take an oath.
- If achieved, the state could reestablish its government.
Response: Faced backlash from Radical Republicans, who viewed this plan as overly lenient and sought stricter punishment for the South.

Objective: Radical Republicans’ response to Lincoln’s leniency.
Key Features:
- Proposed harsher terms for Confederate re-admittance.
- Demanded the complete abolition of slavery.
- Sought to strip voting rights from Confederate citizens.
Outcome: Passed Congress but pocket-vetoed by Lincoln, who believed it could exacerbate tensions and delay reconciliation.

Aims: Similar to Lincoln’s, with some differences aimed at excluding the wealthier class from easy re-integration.
Pardon Policy:
- Amnesty for those taking a legal oath; wealthy individuals required to seek personal pardons from Johnson.
State Governance:
- Installation of provisional governors to oversee Southern state governments.
War Debt Responsibility:
- Southern states held accountable for war debts incurred.
- Southern states required to honor the Thirteenth Amendment (abolition of slavery).

Overview: Redistributed the South into five military districts controlled by military commanders.
Legal Status: No legitimate state government existed in the South, except for Tennessee, which ratified the Fourteenth Amendment.

Themes: Concerns over African American rights and debates over the level of punishment for Southern states.
Notable Vetoes:
- Johnson vetoed the Reconstruction Act twice, demonstrating ongoing conflict over reconstruction policies.
- Congress successfully overrode these vetoes, indicating a desire for a more stringent approach to Reconstruction.

The Reconstruction era was marked by differing visions for the reintegration of the South and the treatment of its citizens, significantly shaping the rights of African Americans and the political landscape in post-Civil War America.