Reconstruction Era: Compare and Contrast Lincoln's plan, the radicals republician and Johnson's plan and which one you would support and why??

Reconstruction was the time period following the Civil War, the period during which the united states began to rebuild after the war.The purpose of Reconstruction was to re-unite the north and the south politically. The second purpose was to rebuild the south physically and economically. The third purpose was to build a southern society of radical understanding and equality. The reconstruction failed to re-unite the north and the south politically. The process became complicated due to the fact that Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, the members of congress, and the radicals Republican all had different ideas about how Reconstruction should be handled. They all basically agreed to disagree. Lincoln created the Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan, Radicals passed the Wade-Davis Bill, Johnson had a plan for reconstruction which was the Presidential Reconstruction. I would support the radicals plan because they wanted the best towards the slaves and wanted better for the reconstruction and Lincoln and Johnson wanted to reunite the south and the north and when Johnson claimed that reconstruction was complete, many believed that the southern states didn't really change as much as it was before.

Lincoln wanted an agreeable Reconstruction Plan. In 1863 he clarified his proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction which was known as the Ten percent plan. The government would discharge all of the Confederates excluding high-ranking Confederate officials and those accused of crimes against prisoners of war, who would promise to the union to obey its laws. When the ten percent of those on the voting lists took declaration of allegiance, a confederate state could form a new state government and send representatives and senators to Congress. Lincoln's perspective was that the confederate states never left the union because secession was constitutionally unachievable. Lincoln looked forward to his ten percent plan to make the south return quick and easy. Lincoln had hope for a reunited nation. Nevertheless Lincoln's moderate and reconstruction plan angered a minority of republicans in congress, which were the radicals republicans.

The Radicals had supported abolition and the war, and they proposed laws to guarantee African-American Right. The radicals wanted to destroy the political power of former slave holders. They wanted African-Americans to be given full citizenship and the right to vote. But the radicals responded to the Ten-Percent Plan by passing the Wade-Davis Bill. This was proposed to have the congress held responsible for reconstruction and that a majority of the state government and just ten percent of those who are eligible to vote in 1860. They would have to take and oath to support the constitution. Lincoln refused to let that bill pass, so therefore he used a pocket veto to exterminate the bill after the congress adjourned. The radicals thought that was a absurd thing to do. The radicals wanted Lincoln to restrain himself and to leave the reconstruction to the Congress. But it was time for a presidential congressional confrontation on the issue of reconstruction. Even though Lincoln did not live to succeed in his plan, it was left to Andrew Johnson to handle the Reconstruction dispute.

Andrew Johnson had continued Lincoln policies. Johnson announced his own plan to reconstruct the seven remaining Confederate states. This plan was called the Presidential Reconstruction. He clarified that most of the southern states could be readmitted to the union if they could meet few of the conditions. Each state would have to declare its secession illegal, swear allegiance to the union and to approve abolish slavery. There was a difference between Johnson's and Lincoln's plan because Johnson tried to exclude high-ranking Confederates and wealthy landowners from taking an oath that was needed to approve voting. Radicals were upset at the fact Johnson's plan failed to address the needs of former slaves by the land, voting rights, and the protection under law. They relieved most of the whites in the south. He thought that the white man could handle the south so there was no need to approve voting for former slaves. Most of the former confederate states quickly agreed to his terms but some of the southern states did not give in with the conditions for returning to the union.

Moderate Republicans came together with the radicals to dominate the president's vetoes of the civil Rights. They were angered by Johnson's actions. They wanted to to change the reconstruction process. Congress had accepted the 14Th amendment which gave a constitutional plan for the civil rights act. Since all persons born or naturalized in the united states citizens of the country were all entitled to equal protection of the law. Johnson thought that the amendment was to harsh on the Confederate leaders and it was unacceptable to force states to accept it since their legislators were not included in the making of the process. He persuaded the southern states to reject and they did reject it all but one, so the amendment was ratified. When it was time for elections Johnson would have voters to elect representatives who agreed to the proposition of his reconstruction policy. Many voters were offended with his harsh language and unacceptable behavior. The Radicals and moderates won and congress was prepared to move along with its reconstruction policy. The radicals and moderates had joined the passing of the reconstruction act.

Radicals tried to get rid of Johnson because he was not carrying out his duties to accomplish the reconstruction act. Johnson was trying to hold up Reconstruction, they looked for whatever that was at their advantage to impeach him. But i strongly support the radicals because they were unquestionably positive about what they wanted to achieve in the Reconstruction act. Even though Johnson was an obstacle for them to go along with the reconstruction they still succeed it. Johnson wanted everything to basically stay the same. Radicals wanted a change and i support them for the decision that they made.