Compare and contrast presidential and congressional plans for Reconstruction.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between presidential and congressional plans for Reconstruction, referring to both throughout. Presidential reconstruction was formulated by Lincoln, but carried out by Johnson, while congressional reconstruction plans were in the Wade–Davis Bill and carried out by the Radical Republicans. Candidates may refer to both plans dealing with the readmission of Confederate states, elimination of slavery, treatment of freedmen and the reunification of the country. Differences lay in the application of those policies. Presidential reconstruction was more lenient towards the seceded states, left much up to the states and was less well-defined regarding the rights of freedmen. Congressional reconstruction set stricter standards for readmission, required the acceptance of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, divided the South into military occupation zones and saw it as a national issue. Both similarities and differences must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal number of each.

While candidates attempted the comparison between presidential and congressional plans for Reconstruction, the knowledge applied was not impressive.