After the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln sought to quickly heal and reunify the nation. Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 right after Robert E. Lee surrendered. Consequently, Vice President Andrew Johnson took charge of the Reconstruction plans and assumed the presidency following Lincoln’s death. President Andrew Johnson carried on with the endeavors to promote national healing.
Desiring to extend the progress initiated by President Lincoln’s Reconstruction, the Radical Republicans aimed to prevent former Confederates from regaining power in the South. Although they secured a minority of votes from both the House and the Senate, their determination remained firm.
To secure rights for African Americans.
The reconstruction plan was viewed as ineffective by them.
Congress started passing bills to modify the reconstruction plans for Southern Democrats.
They wanted seceded states to regain all their rights without any penalties for former confederates.
The Radical Republicans gained control of Congress, and the majority of Southern Democrats agreed to elect Rutherford Hayes as president. However, they demanded the withdrawal of all federal troops from the South. The main issue that divided Republicans during Reconstruction after the Civil War was whether to implement the more radical changes proposed by the Radical Republicans or to pursue a more moderate approach like Lincoln. The Radicals wanted civil rights for freedmen, abolition of slavery, and harsh penalties for ex-Confederates. Although the Radicals managed to pass a Reconstruction program through Congress, it was vetoed by Lincoln. Lincoln preferred a gradual approach that wouldn’t disrupt the union’s balance and planned to compensate those who lost their slaves. If I were a member of Congress at that time, I would support Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction as it had a better chance of unifying the country after the war and bringing back the ex-Confederates.
