Reconstruction Plans: Lincoln vs Congress — Reading Comprehension

After the Civil War ended in 1865, the United States faced a major challenge: how to rebuild the South and reunite the country. Two main plans for Reconstruction emerged—one led by President Abraham Lincoln and another by Congress. These competing approaches showed deep disagreements about how the nation should move forward after such a destructive conflict.

President Lincoln believed in a quick and gentle reunification. His plan, called the "Ten Percent Plan," allowed a Southern state to rejoin the Union when just 10% of its voters swore loyalty to the United States and accepted the end of slavery. Lincoln explained, "With malice toward none, with charity for all...let us strive on to finish the work we are in." This quote from his Second Inaugural Address shows his desire for reconciliation rather than punishment. Lincoln hoped that forgiveness would help heal the nation and avoid further resentment among Southern whites.

However, many members of Congress, especially the group known as the Radical Republicans, thought Lincoln's approach was too lenient. They wanted stronger guarantees for the rights of formerly enslaved people and believed the South needed to be fundamentally changed before rejoining the Union. Congress feared that former Confederate leaders would regain power and block true equality for African Americans. Congressional leaders argued that only strict requirements and federal oversight could secure a fair future for all citizens.

This disagreement led to conflict between the executive and legislative branches. In 1864, Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill, which demanded that a majority of white men in Southern states take a loyalty oath, and that states abolish slavery before returning to the Union. Lincoln refused to sign the bill, using a pocket veto. This action increased tension between the president and Congress. The underlying debate was not just about how to restore the Union, but also who had the power to decide its terms.

After Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, Vice President Andrew Johnson became president. Johnson tried to follow Lincoln’s moderate plan, but Congress pushed back, passing laws like the Freedmen’s Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Congress also passed the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection to all people born in the United States. Southern states were required to ratify this amendment before being readmitted to the Union.

The perspectives of freed African Americans and Southern leaders were also important. Freedmen wanted land, education, and rights, while many Southern whites resisted these changes. African American voices, like those of Frederick Douglass, called for "universal suffrage" and true justice. At the same time, some Southern leaders tried to restore old power structures, using Black Codes to limit the freedoms of former slaves.

The consequences of these competing plans were significant. Congressional Reconstruction led to some progress, such as the establishment of public schools and the passage of the 15th Amendment, which protected voting rights for African American men. However, resistance in the South and the eventual end of Reconstruction in 1877 allowed many discriminatory practices to return. The era showed the difficulty of balancing forgiveness, justice, and political power after a civil war.

Interesting Fact: During Reconstruction, more than 2,000 African Americans held public office in the South, marking a historic change in American democracy.

Who created the Ten Percent Plan?

Which group wanted strict Reconstruction policies?

What did the 14th Amendment provide?

Why did Congress oppose Lincoln’s plan?

What was the purpose of Black Codes?

What did Frederick Douglass call for?

Congress and Lincoln always agreed on Reconstruction. True or false?

What does 'reconciliation' mean in the passage?