How the President and Congress Helped the South Rebuild After the Civil War

After the Civil War, there were two main ways to help the South rebuild: one led by the President and the other by Congress. Both had a big impact on how the South changed.

1. Presidential Approach:

   • Abraham Lincoln started this plan, and then Andrew Johnson took over.
   • This approach wanted to quickly bring Southern states back into the United States.
   • For example, Johnson had some lenient rules that helped former Confederate leaders regain power.
   • This made it harder for freedmen, or formerly enslaved people, to gain their rights and progress.

2. Congressional Approach:

   • This method was tougher and focused more on civil rights.
   • It aimed to protect the rights of formerly enslaved people.
   • For instance, the Reconstruction Acts from 1867 put military control over the South.
   • This was done to help protect African American voters and support equality.

These different approaches really changed how politics and society looked in the South after the war.