Question

What Reconstruction plan emphasized reconciliation and leniency after the American Civil War?

Answer 1

The Reconstruction plan that emphasized reconciliation and leniency after the American Civil War was primarily associated with President Abraham Lincoln. His approach is often referred to as the "10 Percent Plan." This plan proposed that a southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10% of its voters swore an oath of allegiance to the Union. Lincoln's goal was to restore the Union quickly and encourage a peaceful reconciliation between the North and South. After Lincoln's assassination, his successor, President Andrew Johnson, continued this lenient approach, but it faced significant opposition from Radical Republicans who favored a more stringent approach to Reconstruction.