The Ten Percent Plan was a proposal made by President Lincoln in 1863. It was meant to help Southern states come back into the Union after the Civil War. Here’s how it worked:

• A Southern state could join the Union again if just 10% of the people who voted in the 1860 election promised to be loyal to the Union.
• This plan was meant to make it easier and faster for the country to heal.

How People Felt About the Plan:

1. In the North:

   • Some people, called moderates, liked the plan. They thought it was a smart move to bring peace.
   • Others, known as radicals, didn’t agree. They thought the plan was too easy on the South. They wanted tougher rules and more protection for freed slaves.

2. In the South:

   • Many people who used to be Confederates saw the plan as a way to weaken their authority.
   • African Americans and people who fought against slavery viewed it as a positive change, but they worried it wouldn’t work unless there were stronger protections in place.

In summary, the Ten Percent Plan caused a lot of different opinions. This disagreement made it clear that there would be more challenges in the Reconstruction period ahead.