Final answer:
Johnson's Reconstruction plan allowed African Americans to start participating in government and seeking rights, but its lenient approach towards the South resulted in backlash and violence. Confederate leaders faced less immediate punishment but were challenged by Radical Republicans who sought harsher measures and greater protections for freedmen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of President Johnson's Reconstruction plan on African Americans and Confederate leaders in the South was significant and complex. African Americans began to take vital steps towards political and social empowerment, forming groups like the Union Leagues and participating more actively in government. They sought land, financial security, education, and involvement in the democratic process.
However, Johnson's lenient terms towards the previously rebellious states, particularly his pardons to many Confederates and his reluctance to provide federal protection for the rights of freedmen, resulted in mixed outcomes. While some progress was made, such as the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, there was a backlash from many in the South, leading to discriminatory laws and mob violence.
For Confederate leaders and the wealthy Southern elite, Johnson's approach initially seemed favorable, as it excluded them from having to appeal for individual pardons and placed non-slaveholders in positions of power. However, the Radical Republicans in Congress opposed Johnson's lenient approach, ultimately pushing for harsher measures and greater protection of freedmen's rights, leading to a political struggle which included Johnson's impeachment.