Explain the purpose of Reconstruction. Describe the difference between Lincoln’s plan and the plan implemented by the Radical Republicans. in about five sentences.
The purpose of Reconstruction was to restore the Southern states to the Union, rebuild the South's economy, and ensure the rights of newly freed African Americans. President Lincoln's plan, known as the 10% plan, was more lenient towards the Southern states and aimed to quickly reintegrate them into the Union. The Radical Republicans, on the other hand, believed that the South needed to be punished for the Civil War and pushed for a more strict and punitive approach. They implemented measures such as the Reconstruction Acts, which divided the South into military districts and required states to ratify the 14th Amendment to be readmitted to the Union. Overall, the Radical Republican plan was more focused on protecting the rights of freed slaves and promoting racial equality in the South.
