Reconstruction Era: Lincoln vs. Radical Republicans

The period after the Civil War when the former Confederate states were reintegrated into the Union.

President Lincoln's plan for the speedy reunification of the country after the Civil War, offering forgiveness to most Southerners and requiring only 10% of the 1860 voting population to pledge allegiance to the Union.

A faction of Republicans in Congress who advocated for a more stringent approach to Reconstruction, focused on punishing the South and protecting the rights of formerly enslaved people. They believed that Lincoln's plan was too lenient toward the Confederacy.

The 13th Amendment, passed during Lincoln's presidency, formally abolished slavery in the United States.

The belief that former Confederate states had committed treason and should be punished for their actions during the Civil War.

The desire to ensure equal rights and protections for formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. This was a key concern for Radical Republicans.

The perspective of seeking to reconcile and rebuild the country after the Civil War, emphasizing forgiveness and uniting the fractured nation.

The overarching goal that drove Lincoln's Reconstruction plans, aiming to reunite the nation and restore its integrity after the Civil War.

The Ironclad Oath required Confederate citizens to pledge that they had never supported the Confederacy or made war against the United States. It was proposed by the Wade-Davis Bill.

The Wade-Davis Bill was a proposal that called for a majority of voters and officials in Confederate states to take the Ironclad Oath. This would have made it hard for many Southern states to rejoin the Union.

President Lincoln rejected the Wade-Davis Bill by taking no action on it, which is known as a pocket veto. He felt it would have hindered the process of reconstruction.

The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Confederate states, but it didn't resolve the legal status of slavery. It was a major step but not a complete victory.

The Republican Party Platform of 1864 declared the abolition of slavery as a top priority and advocated for a constitutional amendment to permanently end it.

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery across the United States, finally ending a centuries-old practice.

The Thirteenth Amendment was formally added to the Constitution in December 1865, marking a significant step towards equality in America.

John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate supporter, assassinated President Lincoln while he was attending a play. This act shocked the nation and fueled fears of a greater conspiracy.

Andrew Johnson was a Democrat from Tennessee who became President after Lincoln's assassination. He was a staunch defender of the South and wanted to restore the Union quickly, with few restrictions. He favored leniency toward the defeated Confederates.

The Radical Republicans were a powerful group in Congress who wanted to punish the South for Secession and to ensure the rights of former slaves. They believed that Johnson was being too lenient. They wanted to see a more fundamental change in Southern society.

Johnson disagreed with the Congressional Republicans over how to treat the South. He offered amnesty and pardon to most Southerners, even high-ranking Confederate leaders. This infuriated the Congress. Johnson thought that giving them back their property would help the South rejoin the Union.

The 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. It was passed during Lincoln's presidency but had huge consequences for the South and the upcoming Reconstruction era.

In order to rejoin the Union, Southern states had to hold conventions, repudiate secession, and ratify the 13th Amendment.

According to Johnson, the South had fulfilled its obligations for readmittance and the Union was restored. He supported the newly elected Southern officials, many of whom were former Confederates.

The Radical Republicans refused to recognize the Southern state governments Johnson had approved. They believed the former Confederates should be punished and blocked Southern senators and representatives from Congress.

The Radical Republicans, in control of Congress, created a committee to oversee Reconstruction. They wanted to overturn Southern society and rebuild it on a new foundation. They clashed with President Johnson, who refused to compromise.

President Johnson's approach to reconstruction was considered lenient by the Radical Republicans, who argued that the Confederate states shouldn't be given back their full rights so quickly.

Johnson, a former tailor's apprentice, resented the wealthy Southern planter class, who he believed were responsible for the war. He wanted to punish them, requiring personal pardons before they could regain their full rights.

The Radical Republicans wanted to fundamentally change Southern society, including its economic system, and wanted to ensure the rights of former slaves. They believed the South needed to be radically transformed after the war.

The Radical Republicans wanted to protect the voting rights of former slaves and ensure they had equal rights in the South. They wanted to use the federal government to achieve this goal.

Johnson believed in a quick return to the Union, with limited punishments for the South, aiming to heal the division rather than create further conflict.

Johnson viewed his policies as practical and necessary for restoring peace, while the Radical Republicans wanted to use the power of the federal government to transform the South.

The disagreement between Johnson and the Radical Republicans over Reconstruction led to a prolonged conflict, with each side accusing the other of being too lenient or too harsh.