Final Answer:
The Presidential Plans of Reconstruction, including Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan and Johnson’s Amnesty Proclamation, aimed for a more lenient approach towards the Southern states, allowing for a quicker reintegration into the Union. In contrast, the Congressional Plans of Reconstruction, such as the Wade-Davis Bill and the Reconstruction Acts, sought to impose stricter conditions on the Southern states before readmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Presidential Plans of Reconstruction, exemplified by Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan and Johnson’s Amnesty Proclamation, were characterized by their relatively lenient terms for readmission of Southern states into the Union. Lincoln’s plan required only ten percent of voters in a state to take an oath of allegiance to the Union, while Johnson’s proclamation granted amnesty to most former Confederates who took an oath of loyalty.
On the other hand, the Congressional Plans of Reconstruction, typified by the Wade-Davis Bill and the Reconstruction Acts, imposed more stringent requirements on the Southern states. The Wade-Davis Bill, for instance, mandated that a majority of white males in each seceded state had to take an “ironclad” oath of allegiance before readmission. Additionally, the Reconstruction Acts divided the South into military districts and required new state constitutions that guaranteed African American suffrage.
The differences between these plans reflect the broader political and ideological divisions during Reconstruction. The Presidential Plans were more conciliatory towards the South and sought a swifter restoration of the Union, while the Congressional Plans were more punitive and aimed at securing civil rights for freedmen. These competing visions led to significant tensions between the executive and legislative branches during this critical period in American history.