Changes

{{cquote|...could only come of one born of poor white trash and educated in a slave state.|||Wade during the Civil War}}

{{cquote|...could only come of one born of poor white trash and educated in a slave state.|||Wade during the Civil War}}

Sen. Wade, with fellow Radical Republican Henry W. Davis, introduced the [[Wade-Davis bill]] pertaining to a post-war plan which called for harsh restrictions on [[the South]] to safeguard the constitutional rights of newly freed blacks.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Although it passed both houses of Congress, Lincoln, who favored a reconciliatory Reconstruction policy, pocket-vetoed Wade-Davis, and it never became law.

Sen. Wade, with fellow Radical Republican Henry W. Davis, introduced the [[Wade-Davis bill]] pertaining to a post-war plan which called for harsh restrictions on [[the South]] to safeguard the constitutional rights of newly freed blacks.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Although it passed both houses of Congress, Lincoln, who favored a reconciliatory Reconstruction policy, pocket-vetoed Wade-Davis, and it never became law.<ref>Masur, Louis P. (July 7, 2014). [https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/the-battle-over-reconstruction/?mtrref=opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com&gwh=1D7946B2F263F3503671C1FE0718A813&gwt=pay&assetType=PAYWALL#more-153520 The Battle Over Reconstruction]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/iPosG here]. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref>

Following Lincoln's assassination, Wade initially was optimistic about the former's successor Andrew Johnson, though soon would similarly wage fierce opposition.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> As the leader of the Senate, he was next in succession to the presidency immediately after Johnson, and this significantly impacted the Senate impeachment trial of Johnson. The racist Tennessee Democrat's Senate acquittal was in part attributed to several Republicans' distaste for Wade, knowing that he would become president if Johnson were removed from office.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Congressman John R. Lynch commented:<ref name=battlefieldtrust/>

Following Lincoln's assassination, Wade initially was optimistic about the former's successor Andrew Johnson, though soon would similarly wage fierce opposition.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> As the leader of the Senate, he was next in succession to the presidency immediately after Johnson, and this significantly impacted the Senate impeachment trial of Johnson. The racist Tennessee Democrat's Senate acquittal was in part attributed to several Republicans' distaste for Wade, knowing that he would become president if Johnson were removed from office.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Congressman John R. Lynch commented:<ref name=battlefieldtrust/>