REVISED:Analyze the differences and similarities of the three major Reconstruction plans:Lincoln's, Johnson's and the radical Republicans'.

Reconstrucion after the Civil War (1863-1877), played a critical role in the further development of America. It was mainly a stuggle for Blacks to achieve equality. It also was important in the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. The Reconsrtuction era had its sucesses and it's failures. Reconstruction re-created the South and brought an extension of capitalism. It played a major role on determinig the nature of American nation-state. The government, especially Congress, stepped in and guided the nation in the right direction. The issue on what to do about Blacks, equality, and the ex-Confederacy paved the rode for Reconstruction plans. They favored each other and also conflicted. They even led to the impeachment of president Andrew Johnson. Three major Reconstruction plans were that of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and the radical Republicans, which all had significant similarities and differences, yet the radical Rebublicans was clearly the most fair and reasonable towards freed Blacks and reconstruction of the South.

The issue of what to do with newly emancipated Blacks plagued American society. In March 1865, Congress passed the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands Act. It assisted freed slaves (and poor whites) who were destitute and in need of food and medical care. It provided farmland that had earlier been owned by slaveholders. Lincoln's plan for reconstructing the South could be considered "moderate". His plan was practically complete opposite of the radical Republicans. Lincoln wanted to quickly reincorporate the South back into the Union. His view was that the PEOPLE of the South did not secede; it was their economic and political leaders that led the South into secession and war. He believd that because government was "indivisible" secession was "politically impossible". His plan included these features: before a state could be readmitted into the Union, 10 percent of voters had to take a loyalty oath. The South had to accept the contract theory of government. Last, until the other requirements were met, military governers were sent to oversee conqured Southern states.

Radical Republicans originally thought that Andrew Jackson would be in favor of their Reconstruction plan, yet they were quite mistaken. Johnson practically adopted Lincoln's plan, then tweaked it to cover anything he found to be a fault. He believed in and therefore added into his plan the disenfranchisement of wealthy and politically powerful Confederate leaders. The issue was that Johnson frequently granted pardons to the same leaders he previously excluded from power. With this, the South's leaders became right back in charge. In 1872, the Amensty Act lifted political restriction on ex-Confederate leaders.

With the Confederacy leaders back in power, their first mission was to find another way to subordinate blacks. This eventually turned into the development of the Black Codes. They were designed to legally subordinate blacks. The Black Codes even denied blacks the right to own property. Furthermore, since blacks could no longer be enslaved, Confederacy leaders turned to making Blacks sign working contracts (as if they were indentured servants), paying little money and trying to make the blacks dependent on the owner. Blacks rights were abridged yet most did not have the courage to testify in court. Radical Republicans sought to change this.

Their Reconstruction plan in 1864, also known as the Wade-Davis Bill included: slavery was to be banned in the U.S. All high ranking Confederacy leaders were to be disenfranchised. Finally, 50 percent of a states citizens were to agree to a loyalty oath. Andrew Johnson ended up in a complete conflict with the radical Republicans because of the obvious differences within their plans. It eventually escalated and led to the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It stated Blacks were to be considered U.S. citizens and were given all rights stated in U.S. Constitution. The attempt to restrict Black rights was deemed illegal. Last, the federal government would enforce this act, not the states.

In Conclusion, I agree mostly with the radical Republican's plan. As an African-American in society today, it seems as if the radical Republicans plan should be implemented again. Lincoln's plan was obviously in favor of the Confederacy and did not show any remorse towards Blacks. Johnson's was completly unfair and unreasonable. It was only to lead the Confederacy back to the antebellum period once again. Yet in all, the three major Reconstruction plans were that of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and the radical Rpublicans, which all had significant similarities and differences.