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President [[Abraham Lincoln]] was the leader of the moderate Republicans and wanted to speed up Reconstruction and reunite the nation as soon as possible. Lincoln formally began Reconstruction in late 1863 with his [[Ten percent plan]], which went into operation in several states but which Radicals opposed. Lincoln vetoed the Radical plan, the [[Wade-Davis Bill]] of 1864.  The opposing faction of [[Radical Republicans]] were much more skeptical of Southern intentions and demanded far more stringent federal action. Congressman [[Thaddeus Stevens]] and Senator [[Charles Sumner]] led the Radical Republicans. After [[Abraham Lincoln assassination|Lincoln's assassination]], President Andrew Johnson switched from the Radical to the moderate camp. He too favored voting rights for the 170,000 black veterans.  

President [[Abraham Lincoln]] was the leader of the moderate Republicans and wanted to speed up Reconstruction and reunite the nation as soon as possible. Lincoln formally began Reconstruction in late 1863 with his [[Ten percent plan]], which went into operation in several states but which Radicals opposed. Lincoln vetoed the Radical plan, the [[Wade-Davis Bill]] of 1864.  The opposing faction of [[Radical Republicans]] were much more skeptical of Southern intentions and demanded far more stringent federal action. Congressman [[Thaddeus Stevens]] and Senator [[Charles Sumner]] led the Radical Republicans. After [[Abraham Lincoln assassination|Lincoln's assassination]], President Andrew Johnson switched from the Radical to the moderate camp. He too favored voting rights for the 170,000 black veterans.  

Republican leaders agreed that slavery and the [[Slave Power]] had to be permanently destroyed, and that all forms of Confederate nationalism had to be suppressed. Moderates said this could be easily accomplished as soon as Confederate armies surrendered and the Southern states repealed secession and ratified the 13th Amendment (which abolished slavery); all of which happened by September 1865, when Johnson felt Reconstruction was finished.

Republican leaders agreed that slavery and the [[Slave Power]] had to be permanently destroyed, and that all forms of Confederate nationalism had to be suppressed. Moderates said this could be easily accomplished as soon as Confederate armies surrendered and the Southern states repealed secession and ratified the Thirteenth Amendment (which abolished slavery); all of which happened by September 1865, when Johnson felt Reconstruction was finished.

By 1866, however, Johnson, with no party affiliation, broke with the moderate Republicans and aligned himself more with the Democrats who opposed equality and the Fourteenth Amendment. Radicals attacked the policies of Johnson, especially his veto of the Civil Rights Bill for the Freedmen.  The [[Ku Klux Klan]] was founded the same year by members of the [[Democratic Party]] to inflict violence against black leaders and white Republicans.<ref>http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan</ref>  Its purpose was to take control and return Democrats to power.  One of the founders, and the first "Grand Wizard," was former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.  Attempts were made to break up the Klan by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and the U.S. Army using the Civil Rights Act of 1871 (also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act).  

By 1866, however, Johnson, with no party affiliation, broke with the moderate Republicans and aligned himself more with the Democrats who opposed equality and the [[Fourteenth Amendment]]. Radicals attacked the policies of Johnson, especially his veto of the Civil Rights Bill for the Freedmen.  The [[Ku Klux Klan]] was founded the same year by members of the [[Democratic Party]] to inflict violence against black leaders and white Republicans.<ref>http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan</ref>  Its purpose was to take control and return Democrats to power.  One of the founders, and the first "Grand Wizard," was former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.  Attempts were made to break up the Klan by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and the U.S. Army using the Civil Rights Act of 1871 (also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act).  

Republicans stripped [[white]] [[male]]s who engaged in rebellion against the [[United States]] of the [[vote]], and gave it to Blacks. Newly freed Blacks held local, state and federal elected and non-elected positions as Republicans. The white males who were deprived of the vote were also barred from holding any civil service position and were universally Democrats.  This disenfranchisement created enormous resentment among Democrats, so they formed the Ku Klux Klan to engage in voter intimidation and suppression.  

Republicans stripped [[white]] [[male]]s who engaged in rebellion against the [[United States]] of the [[vote]], and gave it to Blacks. Newly freed Blacks held local, state and federal elected and non-elected positions as Republicans. The white males who were deprived of the vote were also barred from holding any civil service position and were universally Democrats.  This disenfranchisement created enormous resentment among Democrats, so they formed the Ku Klux Klan to engage in voter intimidation and suppression.