Johnson's Reconstruction Plan

Johnson's Reconstruction Plan aimed to quickly reunite the Southern states after the Civil War. It offered pardons and returned property to most Southern adults who swore loyalty to the U.S., and required states to abolish slavery. States needed to create new governments and elect representatives to rejoin the Union. Johnson's approach was lenient, focusing on restoring the Southern states' independence, but it often overlooked the rights of freed slaves and did not initially enforce protections for formerly enslaved people. His plan was intended to restore the Union swiftly, but faced criticism from those who wanted stronger measures to ensure civil rights.