The Three Plans of Reconstruction: Which was the Best?

Consensus for how the nation should approach Reconstruction was difficult to come by. President Lincoln proposed the first plan before his assassination. When Andrew Johnson ascended to the presidency, he proposed a similar plan. Congress, however, would ultimately enact a decisive plan in 1867 which laid the groundwork for the national approach to Reconstruction. Below is a chart outlining the highlights of each plan. Review and answer the questions that follow.

1. Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Prompt:
“What should happen to people or states that rebel against their country? Should they be punished harshly or forgiven? Why?”

Students write in their journals or share aloud. Teacher leads a brief discussion and records key terms (e.g., forgiveness, punishment, unity, justice) on the board.

2. Mini-Lecture or Direct Instruction (10–15 minutes)

Teacher briefly explains the historical background:

• The end of the Civil War (April 1865)
• Assassination of President Lincoln and the rise of Andrew Johnson
• The divide between Johnson and the Radical Republicans in Congress

Introduce the chart outlining Lincoln’s Plan, Johnson’s Plan, and the Congressional Reconstruction Plan. Clarify vocabulary and concepts such as “amnesty,” “Radical Republicans,” and “military districts.”

3. Group Activity: Chart Review and Questions (20 minutes)

Students work in pairs or small groups to review the comparison chart. They annotate and discuss:

• Similarities and differences between the three plans
• Goals and motivations behind each plan

Groups answer the provided analysis questions on a worksheet or displayed slide.

4. Whole-Class Discussion (10 minutes)

The teacher brings the class together to go over key answers. Guiding questions include:

• Which plan do you think was most fair?
• Which plan might have worked best to rebuild the South?
• Why do you think Congress took over Reconstruction?

Encourage students to think about the long-term impact of each plan.