Which of the following best describes the Reconstruction policy implemented in 1865 by President Andrew Johnson and his appointed provisional governor for Texas, Andrew Jackson Hamilton?

Question

• A lenient, conservative plan aimed at making white Texans acknowledge the wrongfulness of secession and the end of slavery.
• A harsh, vengeful plan aimed at punishing white Texans and taxing them into bankruptcy
• An idealistic plan aimed at giving blacks full civil and political rights, including the right to vote and hold office.
• None of the above

Answer 1

The option that best describes the Reconstruction policy implemented in 1865 by President Andrew Johnson and his appointed provisional governor for Texas, Andrew Jackson Hamilton, is:

• A lenient, conservative plan aimed at making white Texans acknowledge the wrongfulness of secession and the end of slavery.

Johnson's approach to Reconstruction was characterized by a lenient stance towards the Southern states, focusing on quick reintegration into the Union with minimal penalties, which often did not adequately address the rights of formerly enslaved individuals.