Lincoln had one plan for bringing the rebel states back into the Union; Andrew Johnson

another; and
the Radical Republican Congress a third. Discuss the aims of each president, and explain why and in
what ways Congress took control of Reconstruction.

Lincoln leaned more toward the south, and made his reconstruction plan more forgiving. His
plan was called the Ten-Percent plan. When 10% of the state’s voters pledged to be loyal, the state
would be allowed to return to the Union. The republicans felt like Lincoln was being too lenient because
they felt that the south should be punished.

When President Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew Jackson became president. Jackson was from
the south, and his plan was to let the rich people take over. He allowed the wealthy people and
confederate leaders from the south come to him directly for forgiveness. In return, he forgave almost 13
thousand confederates and let them back into the union.

Congress was controlled by the republicans and they had the power to reconstruct the south.
They took over by making Acts that they knew Jackson would veto so they could overturn the vetoes
since they had the majority vote. Congress wanted a stricter reconstruction and they forced the south to
follow their orders.

References:
Keene, Jennifer D., Saul Cornell, Edward O'Donnell. Visions of America: A History of the United States,

2nd Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 12/2011. VitalBook file.