Learning Objective Three: Discuss the Congressional plan of Reconstruction and show HOW it developed out of the weaknesses of the Presidential plan.

Because of the dissatisfaction of the Presidential plan of Reconstruction, the Congressional leaders developed a plan of their own which carefully retained control of the entire process of Reconstruction in their hands. The Congressional plan got started with the passage of the Wade-Davis Bill of July 1864. The bill was a response to Lincoln's plan of Reconstruction and a reflection on the Radical Republicans who sponsored the bill and felt Lincoln was too lenient.
This started a rift over Reconstruction between him and that wing of his own party called Radical Republicans The term Radical Republican refers to those who were determined to employ the power of the national government to insure civil and political rights for the newly freed Blacks.
"The Southern states ought never to be recognized as capable of acting in the Union, or of being counted as valid states, until the Constitution shall have been so amended ... as to secure perpetual ascendancy of the party of the Union."
The party was the Republican party and the Amendment was the Fifteenth, passed in 1870. The Amendment provided for suffrage for the Blacks which in tum accomplished two things: It fulfilled the moral obligation to the Blacks and satisfied the humanitarian and liberal wing of the Republican party . It also created a flourishing Republican party in the South.The reason for Stevens' comment was that, if the Southern states returned a solid Democratic counterpart to Congress, as appeared inevitable under Lincoln's Reconstruction plan, a reunited Democratic party would win the next presidential election and possibly have a majority in both houses of Congress. Hence, the stage was set for conflict between the Presidential and Congressional plans of Reconstruction and a motive to remove both Lincoln and Johnson from office becomes clear.
- As a prerequisite to readmission to the Union, the Southern states had to guarantee the Black man the right to vote and hold office.
- Ex-Confederate leaders were to be disqualified from holding office .
- The Southern states had to repeal their Black Codes.
- Finally, Congress felt it had the power to reconstruct the ex-Confederate states as the both Presidents Lincoln and Johnson were not protecting the rights of the Blacks and were giving away the fruits of victory.
The significance of the Amendment was that, for the first time, the Federal Government took upon itself the protection of the rights of life, liberty, and property of the individual. These were rights that a state could not invaded. which from the beginning distinguished our federal system. When ten of the former Confederate states refused to ratify the Amendment, Congress was left with no alternative but to take more drastic measures to protect the rights of Blacks.
A President Impeached (http://www.ushistory.org/us/35c.asp)
In the spring of 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first President to be IMPEACHED. The heavily Republican House of Representatives brought 11 articles of impeachment against Johnson. Many insiders knew that the Congress was looking for any excuse to rid themselves of an uncooperative President.
Impeachment refers to the process specified in the Constitution for trial and removal from office of any federal official accused of misconduct. It has two stages. The House of Representatives charges the official with articles of impeachment. "TREASON, BRIBERY, OR OTHER HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS" are defined as impeachable offenses. Once charged by the House, the case goes before the Senate for a trial.
In 1867, Congress passed the Reconstruction Act, which EDWIN STANTON, as Secretary of War, was charged with enforcing. Johnson opposed the Act and tried to remove Stanton — in direct violation of the TENURE OF OFFICE ACT. Nine of the articles of impeachment related to Johnson's removal of Stanton. Another two charged Johnson with disgracing Congress. Johnson's defense was simple: only a clear violation of the law warranted his removal.
But as with politics, things are rarely simple. Other factors came into play. Since there was no Vice President at the time, the next in line for the Presidency was BENJAMIN WADE, a Radical unpopular with businessmen and moderates. And along with legal wrangling, assurance was given from Johnson's backers that the Radicals' Southern policies would be accepted.
In May of 1868, 35 Senators voted to convict, one vote short of the required 2/3 majority. Seven Republican Senators had jumped party lines and found Johnson not guilty. Johnson dodged a bullet and was able to serve out his term. It would be 130 years before another President — BILL CLINTON — would be impeached.
- Blacks held few offices during Reconstruction. With a few exceptions Blacks never shared in the spoils of office in proportion to their numbers.
- Carpetbaggers were Northerners who had returned to the South to farm, businessmen looking for good investments, and government agents who, for one reason or another, decided to stay on in the South.
- Scalawags made up the largest single element in the Radical coalition. They were Southern planters, merchants, and industrialists who turned Republican. They were also willing to cooperate with the Blacks and Carpetbaggers to advance their own interests.

Rival Reconstruction Plans
Plan | Ten Percent Plan | Wade-Davis Bill | Johnson Plan | Reconstrucion Act |
Proposed by |
President Lincoln (1863)
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Republicans in Congress (1864) |
President Andrew Johnson (1865) |
Radical Republicans in Congress (1867) |
Conditions for former Confederate states to rejoin Union
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