Final answer:
Three approaches to Reconstruction were proposed after the Civil War: Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan aimed at quick reunification and moderate terms, the Radical Republicans' push for societal transformation and civil rights for freed slaves, and Johnson's continuation of Lincoln's lenient approach leading to conflicts with Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Approaches to Reconstruction
After the Civil War, three primary approaches to Reconstruction emerged. President Abraham Lincoln proposed the Ten Percent Plan, which was relatively lenient and aimed to quickly reunite the country. This plan required a small percentage (10%) of voters from the Confederate states to swear allegiance to the Union and accept the end of slavery, after which states could re-establish their governments. Radical Republicans in Congress challenged Lincoln's approach, seeking to transform Southern society more fundamentally and to guarantee rights for freed slaves. Lastly, President Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, largely followed Lincoln's approach but faced more opposition from the Radicals, leading to further conflict and eventually his impeachment.
President Lincoln's Plan was focused on restoring the Union quickly with his Ten Percent Plan. He believed the Confederate states never actually left the Union, hence reconstruction was more about restoration. The plan sought to pardon most who took the oath of allegiance and accept the abolition of slavery, without imposing harsh penalties on the Southern states.
Under Radical Reconstruction, the Radical Republicans in Congress pushed for more stringent requirements for re-entry of the Southern states into the Union and greater protections for freed slaves, including the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments. They imposed military rule over the South and required the formation of new state governments that were more favorable to civil rights for African Americans.
President Andrew Johnson's approach mirrored Lincoln's to a large extent but was met with greater resistance. His leniency towards the defeated Confederacy and lack of support for African American civil rights resulted in conflicts with Congress, leading to an impeachment attempt.