Cession of the Rebel States
After the war, the Union had to decide on the best method to join the United States again. President Abraham Lincoln was saddled with this burden and he handled it by issuing a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. Within these plans, he outlined that rebel states could form Union governments after ten percent of the states' citizens pledged allegiance to the Constitution, and show support for the amendments dealing with emancipation. Pardons were distributed and certain people were excluded from amnesty (certain officers of the Confederacy, those that did not agree to treat blacks fairly, etc.). The only states that abided by Lincoln's plan were Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Following the assassination of President Lincoln, Johnson, a pro-Union Democrat, issued a plan for Restoration (very similar to Lincoln's with the Amnesty papers) and tried to rapidly join the Union together. Johnson declared "there is no such thing as reconstruction, therefore it is unnecessary."
Following the assassination of President Lincoln, Johnson, a pro-Union Democrat, issued a plan for Restoration (very similar to Lincoln's with the Amnesty papers) and tried to rapidly join the Union together. Johnson declared "there is no such thing as reconstruction, therefore it is unnecessary."