Changes

After the [[Civil War]], although the fighting had ended, the country remained deeply divided, with emotions running high.  Nearly every family had suffered greatly or lost loved ones in the violence.  However, big questions remained over empowerment of recently freed slaves, and what to do with those who had engaged in rebellion against the United States.   

After the [[Civil War]], although the fighting had ended, the country remained deeply divided, with emotions running high.  Nearly every family had suffered greatly or lost loved ones in the violence.  However, big questions remained over empowerment of recently freed slaves, and what to do with those who had engaged in rebellion against the United States.   

President [[Andrew Johnson]], a Democrat elected vice president in 1864 at the height of the war on a national unity ticket with Republican [[Abraham Lincoln]], was in constant conflict with the [[Radical Republicans]] who controlled Congress.  The [[media]] called Republicans "radical" because they advocated full equality and [[civil rights]] for [[blacks]], and wanted to punish Southern slaveholders and Confederates who engaged in open rebellion.   

President [[Andrew Johnson]], a Democrat elected vice president in 1864 at the height of the war on a national unity ticket with Republican [[Abraham Lincoln]], was in constant conflict with the [[Radical Republicans]] who controlled Congress.  The [[media]] called Republicans "radical" because they advocated full equality and [[civil rights]] for [[blacks]], and wanted to punish Confederates and Southern slaveholders who engaged in open rebellion.   

Johnson handed out numerous pardons to former slaveholders, Confederate officers, and the rank and file.  This brought Johnson into conflict with Lincoln's [[Secretary of War]], who had been confirmed by the Senate, vowing to carry out the Republicans' civil rights efforts for Blacks in occupied military districts of [[the South]] when the war was over.

Johnson handed out numerous pardons to former slaveholders, Confederate officers, and the rank and file.  This brought Johnson into conflict with Lincoln's [[Secretary of War]], who had been confirmed by the Senate, vowing to carry out the Republicans' civil rights efforts for Blacks in occupied military districts of [[the South]] when the war was over.