What was the issue with Andrew Johnson's plan?

What was the issue with Andrew Johnson's plan?

• A. Too lenient
• B. Too harsh toward the South
• C. Direct violation of the Constitution
• D. Ignored the end of slavery

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that presidential Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson was not strong enough to protect newly freed African Americans. Johnson offered broad pardons to many former Confederates and allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union with minimal requirements, which meant former leaders could regain political power and quickly restore their old social order. He did not push for lasting civil rights protections for freed slaves, and in practice his plan allowed Black Codes and other measures that restricted African Americans’ rights to take hold in the South. Because of this leniency, the emancipation achieved by slavery wasn’t effectively secured, and Congress stepped in with a harsher, more enforceable Reconstruction program. Thus, the issue with Johnson’s plan is that it was too lenient toward the South.

The main idea here is that presidential Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson was not strong enough to protect newly freed African Americans. Johnson offered broad pardons to many former Confederates and allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union with minimal requirements, which meant former leaders could regain political power and quickly restore their old social order. He did not push for lasting civil rights protections for freed slaves, and in practice his plan allowed Black Codes and other measures that restricted African Americans’ rights to take hold in the South. Because of this leniency, the emancipation achieved by slavery wasn’t effectively secured, and Congress stepped in with a harsher, more enforceable Reconstruction program. Thus, the issue with Johnson’s plan is that it was too lenient toward the South.