Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction and Their Justifications

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Presidential Reconstruction
Radical Reconstruction
Similarities and Differences Between the Phases
Conclusion
Bibliography

Introduction

In the worlds history, there have been numerous cases when the mercy of one group of people and the violence and cruelty of another argument over the necessary steps to solve a particular problem. Some political figures have the power to forgive and accept the apology of former protesters, while others choose to severely punish them for trying to rebel. Precisely this division of opinions resulted in the fact that, during the Reconstruction era, Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson decided to follow moderate and merciful policy, while the Radical Republicans insisted on harsher measures. Overall, Reconstruction was the period of time following the American Civil War, when the government tried to solve several economic, political, and social consequences that appeared because of the readmission of the eleven Confederate states. Being considered one of the essential eras in the history of the United States, Reconstruction was marked by the ratification of several crucial amendments that provided people with rights and freedoms. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction and try to find certain justifications for both approaches.

Presidential Reconstruction

Officially, Presidential Reconstruction was inaugurated in 1865, after Andrew Johnson became the President of the United States. However, it originated when Abraham Lincoln created a unique program called the Ten Percent Plan, which was aimed at bringing the South into the Union as quickly as possible. This plan was stated in his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which was issued in 1863 and addressed several terms that he expected most Southerners to accept.

To begin with, Lincoln chose to provide a full pardon for everyone who participated in the rebellion and restored their property. However, this merciful decision did not extend to the highest military leaders and officials of the Confederate. Further, the states were expected to abolish slavery. Finally, in case ten percent of each states voters had sworn an oath to be a supporter of the United States, their states could form new governments and constitutions. His intentions to move towards peace and become a united and strong nation were also indicated in his Second Inaugural Address. This was a rather lenient plan, and Johnsons strategy was also merciful.

As the successor of the former President, Andrew Johnson also decided to provide the Southern states with relatively easy conditions for restoring their status in the U.S., which was also a rather controversial strategy. To begin with, Johnsons Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon for the Confederate States provided Southerners with an easy opportunity to return their property and status if they supported the U.S. Constitution. The President also excluded high-ranking officers and the political leadership of the Confederates. Further, when the states ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, Johnson allowed several former leaders of the Confederates to get their seats in Congress and proclaimed that all the eleven states had followed the requirements. From his point of view, the Reconstruction was successfully finished, which, however, was not Congresss idea.

Radical Reconstruction

As mentioned above, though Congress and both Presidents had the same general object (to unite the country after the civil war), Radical Reconstruction was opposed to the Presidential one and had a different approach to the situation. To begin with, Radical Republicans did not find Lincolns plan effective and thought-through enough to protect the freed slaves rights. In addition, they did not want to provide forgiveness and property to the Confederate States representatives so easily. Therefore, Congress insisted on harsher actions and stricter demands, opposing first Lincoln and then Johnson.

First of all, Radical Republicans tried to stop the implementation of the Ten Percent Plan by proposing their own document. In their Wade-Davis Bill, Congress insisted on the necessity of the majority of Confederate states officials and voters to swear that they were never supporters of the Confederation or opposed to the U.S. Unless one took this oath, they could not take part in the Souths following political affairs. However, Lincoln never signed this document, and Radical Republicans had to think of another way to punish former Confederates and protect freed slaves.

After Johnson became the President, Congress was not pleased with his intention to continue Lincolns plan aimed at quick reincorporation of the Southern states. They were confident that the main focus had to be on protecting the emancipated blacks and giving them the same rights. However, their Civil Rights Bill and the extension of the power of the Freedmens Bureau were vetoed by the President. After that, Moderate and Radical Republicans united and overturned the veto, which gave them the possibility to set their own conditions for the Southern states. Therefore, Congress made them accept black suffrage and also deprived the former Confederates of their ability to hold both national and state office.

Radical Reconstruction lasted until 1877 and was also marked by the Republicans successful usage of a Constitutional remedy Presidential impeachment. This allowed them to implement their steps and achieve the former slaves protection. For example, in 1867, the Republicans Reconstruction Act also divided the South into five military districts under commanders empowered to employ the army to protect black property and citizens. Thanks to their efforts, African Americans were given rights, and many of them managed to serve in local offices, state legislatures, and the U.S. Senate.

Similarities and Differences Between the Phases

It is evident that the Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction had certain similarities and differences, which made the representatives of both help and oppose each other at the same time. The main similarity was in the central purpose of the Reconstruction to get the Southern states to become part of the Union. Further, Lincoln and Congress supported each other in the idea of the necessity of the Thirteenth Amendment and new state constitutions. However, the main difference between the phases was the participants approaches to the solution of the issues. Radical Republicans wanted to punish the former Confederates, while Lincoln and Johnson insisted on quicker integration. Finally, another distinguishing factor is that President Johnson did not find African Americans rights a fundamental problem, while Congress aimed at giving them the same rights and liberties as the whites had.

Conclusion

To draw a conclusion, one may say that both Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction were required in order to improve and unite the country and make sure the nation was ready for the changes. Some may argue that the Presidents should have done more to protect the freed slaves and help them get used to their newly acquired freedom. However, this was eventually achieved, and this is what people should be grateful for. Despite the several differences between the two phases, it is important that the Radical Republicans and the two Presidents had the same central purpose of uniting their wounded nation, which they finally achieved.

Bibliography

Johnson, Andrew. Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon for the Confederate States. 1865, Web.

Lincoln, Abraham. Proclamation of Amnesty. Bartleby, 1863, Web.

Second Inaugural Address. National Park Service, 1865, Web.

Radical Reconstruction. U.S. History. Web.

Reconstruction. U.S. History. Web.

Transcript of Wade-Davis Bill (1864). Our Documents.gov. Web.

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