Reconstruction, Presidential Reconstruction And Radical Or Congressional Reconstruction

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1. After the Civil War there were two major plans for reconstruction, Presidential Reconstruction and Radical or Congressional Reconstruction. In 1865 President Andrew Johnson announced his plans for reconstruction in the South, which became known as Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867). Johnson believed that the government had no right to determine voting eligibility or other issues at the state level. Johnson restored property that was given to free slaves to its prewar owners. Southern states were given free reign and the ability to restore them selves. However, they had no choice but to uphold the 13th amendment (abolition of slavery), therefore many southern states and white supremacists that resisted reconstructions enacted black codes and Jim Crowe …show more content…
These were laws that intended to restrict freed slaves rights. Northerners that initially supported Johnson quickly turned against him when black codes and Jim Crowe laws came about. In 1866 the Civil Rights bill was passed by congress, which ensure equality to all. Johnson vetoed this bill and was ultimately impeached in 1868. Congressional reconstruction (1867-1870) was a plan for radical, hard reconstruction and was promoted by Radical Republicans. As the Radical Republicans began taking control of the south, they divided it into five military districts and outlined how governments were to be organized. The required southern states to ratify the 14th amendment, which provided equal protection under the constitution. In 1869 Congress approved the 15th amendment, guaranteeing no citizens right to vote will be restricted based on race. However, the economic and political gains by the African Americans led to