Essential Question: How should we handle conflict?
Possible response: The main conflict between President Johnson and the Radical Republicans was that Radical Republicans perceived President Johnson’s political decisions to be too lenient. They believed that he sympathized with the South and they felt as though the South should be punished for the Civil War. President Johnson favored allowing southern states to rejoin the Union if a certain percentage of the states’ population swore allegiance to the Union, while the Radical Republicans passed legislation to divide the southern states into military districts. From the conflict, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendment were passed, which changed the political landscape in the United States. In handling conflict, it is important to note that compromise is not always possible. This was an instance where two strong forces, the president and Congress, clashed and neither side was able to get exactly what they wanted when they wanted it. Congress had to continue to fight and override presidential veto and President Johnson had to fight impeachment. It wasn’t until an election brought a new president that the situation changed.
How can can we shorten this to work it answer the quations
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1. Lincoln's Plan:
- Also known as the 10% Plan
- Offered amnesty to most Confederate soldiers and officials who took an oath of allegiance to the Union
- Required at least 10% of a state's voters to take the allegiance oath in order to be readmitted to the Union
- Focused on reconciliation and rebuilding the country quickly
2. Johnson's Plan:
- Similar to Lincoln's plan but imposed more stringent requirements on high-ranking Confederate officials
- Required Southern states to revoke their secession ordinances and enact the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery
- Aimed to quickly readmit Southern states back into the Union without much change or punishment
3. Radical Republicans' Plan:
- Led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner
- Opposed the leniency of Lincoln and Johnson's plans
- Wanted to punish the South for starting the war and secure rights for freed slaves
- Passed the Reconstruction Acts, which divided the South into military districts, imposed strict requirements for readmission to the Union, and granted voting rights to African American men
In comparison, all three plans aimed to reunite the country and rebuild the South. They also differed in their emphasis on punishment versus reconciliation and the extent of rights granted to freed slaves.
In contrast, Lincoln and Johnson's plans were more lenient and focused on quickly restoring the Union, while the Radical Republicans' plan sought to make significant changes in the South, including punishing those involved in the Confederacy and securing rights for African Americans. The Radical Republicans' plan also involved more federal intervention in the Southern states' affairs through military oversight.
- Lincoln's plan wanted to forgive most Confederates and bring states back with few requirements.
- Johnson's plan was similar but stricter on high-ranking Confederates and required states to abolish slavery.
- Radical Republicans' plan aimed to punish the South, secure rights for freed slaves, and give voting rights to African American men.
In comparison, all plans aimed to rebuild the country. In contrast, Lincoln and Johnson's plans were more forgiving, while the Radical Republicans' plan was stricter and aimed for more changes in the South.
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