Lincoln's assassination had a big effect on how his plan for rebuilding the country, called the Ten Percent Plan, actually worked. Here’s a simple breakdown of what happened:

Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan

The Ten Percent Plan was a pretty easy-going approach. It aimed to help Southern states join the Union again. Here’s how it worked:

• If 10% of the voters in a state from the 1860 election swore loyalty to the Union, that state could set up a new government.
• The plan was meant to help the country heal quickly without punishing the South too much.

The Change in Leadership

After Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, things changed a lot. Andrew Johnson took over as president and had a different way of doing things:

• Less Forgiveness: Johnson’s ideas were harsher than Lincoln’s. He gave pardons to many Southern leaders but didn’t really protect the rights of African Americans.
• Tougher Rules: Johnson’s lack of support for civil rights made it harder to follow Lincoln’s vision of a united country.

Effects on Reconstruction

1. Growing Tensions: The change in leadership caused problems between Congress and Johnson. Many leaders believed he wasn’t doing enough for freed African Americans.
2. Rise of Radical Republicans: This frustration led to the growth of the Radical Republicans. They wanted stricter rules and stronger protections for former slaves, moving away from Lincoln’s easy-going plan.
3. Long-lasting Effects: The tougher measures that came after the Ten Percent Plan caused more conflict in the South. This affected relationships between races for many years.

Conclusion

In the end, Lincoln’s assassination really changed what the Ten Percent Plan was supposed to do. It highlighted how important leadership is in shaping policies. Instead of a smooth healing process, the country faced more divisions, partly because of the new president's different priorities.