Changes

Congress rejected Johnson's argument that he had the war power to decide what to do, since the war was now over. Congress decided it had the primary authority to decide because the Constitution said the Congress had to guarantee each state a republican form of government; the issue became how the core political values of [[Republicanism, U.S.|republicanism]] should operate in the South.

Congress rejected Johnson's argument that he had the war power to decide what to do, since the war was now over. Congress decided it had the primary authority to decide because the Constitution said the Congress had to guarantee each state a republican form of government; the issue became how the core political values of [[Republicanism, U.S.|republicanism]] should operate in the South.

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 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 Thirteenth 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.