US History · 11th Grade · Civil War & Reconstruction · Weeks 10-18

Lincoln's Assassination & Presidential Reconstruction

Examine the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson's approach to Reconstruction.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3: D2.Civ.4.9-12
• C3: D2.His.16.9-12

About This Topic

Abraham Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865 ranks among the most consequential events in American history. Just five days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox, John Wilkes Booth's attack transformed the political landscape of Reconstruction. Lincoln had outlined a moderate path forward with his Ten Percent Plan, offering lenient terms designed to reintegrate Southern states quickly. His death shifted power to a far less politically skilled successor.

Andrew Johnson's approach to Reconstruction reflected his deep-seated white supremacist beliefs and his conviction that Reconstruction was exclusively an executive function. His rapid pardoning of former Confederates, allowance of Black Codes, and veto of civil rights legislation put him on a collision course with Radical Republicans in Congress. Understanding the contrast between Lincoln's political acumen and Johnson's rigidity helps students grasp why Congressional Reconstruction eventually superseded Presidential Reconstruction.

This topic rewards active learning because the competing visions for Reconstruction involve genuine moral and political tension that students can debate. Deliberative discussions about presidential versus congressional authority make abstract constitutional questions tangible and personally relevant to students.

Key Questions

1. Analyze the immediate and long-term consequences of Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
2. Explain Andrew Johnson's lenient approach to Reconstruction and its goals.
3. Compare Johnson's vision for Reconstruction with Lincoln's earlier plans.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the immediate and long-term impacts of Abraham Lincoln's assassination on the course of Reconstruction.
• Compare and contrast the Reconstruction plans of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, identifying key differences in their approaches.
• Explain the primary goals and motivations behind Andrew Johnson's lenient Reconstruction policies.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Presidential Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson in addressing the challenges facing the nation post-Civil War.

Before You Start

The Civil War: Causes and Key Events

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of the Civil War's causes and major turning points to comprehend the context and stakes of Reconstruction.

Abraham Lincoln's Presidency and Wartime Leadership

Why: Familiarity with Lincoln's leadership and his evolving views on slavery and the Union is essential for understanding his Reconstruction proposals.

Key Vocabulary

Reconstruction	The period after the Civil War (1865-1877) during which the United States attempted to rebuild the South and reintegrate the former Confederate states into the Union.
Ten Percent Plan	Abraham Lincoln's proposed plan for Reconstruction, which required 10% of a state's voters to swear an oath of loyalty to the Union before it could be readmitted.
Black Codes	Laws passed by Southern states after the Civil War that severely restricted the freedom and rights of newly freed African Americans.
Presidential Reconstruction	The phase of Reconstruction led by President Andrew Johnson, characterized by his lenient policies toward the South and a focus on executive authority.
Radical Republicans	A faction of the Republican Party during Reconstruction who advocated for harsher penalties for the South and greater civil rights for African Americans.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Lincoln's Reconstruction plans would have guaranteed civil rights for freedpeople.

What to Teach Instead

Even Lincoln's relatively moderate plans focused on political reintegration rather than full civil rights guarantees. Role-playing debates about the Freedmen's Bureau help students see the gap between reunification goals and racial equality outcomes.

Common Misconception

Johnson's policies were simply a continuation of Lincoln's approach.

What to Teach Instead

Both sought a quick reunion, but Johnson actively worked to restore white supremacy and undermined Black political participation. Comparing Lincoln's Second Inaugural with Johnson's veto messages reveals stark differences in intent and commitment to Black citizenship.

Common Misconception

Lincoln's death made Radical Reconstruction inevitable.

What to Teach Instead

While Lincoln's death shifted the political dynamic, congressional power had been building before his death. Students examining the Wade-Davis Bill of 1864 discover that tensions between Congress and the executive over Reconstruction predated the assassination.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: Two Visions for Reconstruction

Post excerpts from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, his Ten Percent Plan, Johnson's veto messages, and Black Codes around the room. Students move in pairs, annotating each source with what it reveals about the speaker's vision for Reconstruction. The class then maps the competing visions on a shared graphic organizer.

40 min·Pairs

Fishbowl Discussion: Did Johnson Betray Lincoln's Legacy?

Six to eight students sit in an inner circle to debate whether Johnson's approach honored Lincoln's legacy or contradicted it. Outer circle students observe and take notes on arguments, then rotate in. Post-discussion, students write a brief position statement citing at least two primary sources.

45 min·Whole Class

Think-Pair-Share: Counterfactual Reconstruction

Present students with the prompt: If Lincoln had lived, how might Reconstruction have unfolded differently? Pairs discuss for five minutes, then share with a neighboring pair before whole-class synthesis. Students practice counterfactual reasoning and distinguish evidence from speculation.

25 min·Pairs

Timeline Analysis: Presidential vs. Congressional Reconstruction

Small groups build a comparative timeline from 1865 to 1868, marking key Johnson actions (Black Codes, pardons, vetoes) against Congressional responses (Civil Rights Act, Reconstruction Amendments). Groups then identify the turning points when Congressional authority gained the upper hand.

35 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Historians and political scientists analyze presidential actions and legislative debates from the Reconstruction era to draw parallels with contemporary debates about national unity and civil rights.
• Museum curators at Ford's Theatre and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History interpret artifacts and documents related to Lincoln's assassination and Reconstruction to educate the public about this pivotal period.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the following question to students: 'Imagine you are a member of Congress in 1865. Based on Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan and Johnson's early actions, would you support Presidential Reconstruction or advocate for a different approach? Justify your decision with specific evidence from the plans.' Facilitate a class debate, encouraging students to cite specific policy differences.

Quick Check

Provide students with a Venn diagram template. Ask them to fill it out comparing Lincoln's Reconstruction plan and Johnson's Reconstruction plan. The central overlapping section should highlight any similarities, while the outer sections detail unique aspects of each plan.

Exit Ticket

On an index card, have students write one sentence explaining why Lincoln's assassination was a significant turning point for Reconstruction. Then, ask them to list one specific policy enacted or supported by Andrew Johnson that differed from Lincoln's likely approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Lincoln's assassination so significant for Reconstruction?

Lincoln's death removed a politically experienced leader who had the standing to negotiate between congressional radicals and Southern moderates. Johnson lacked both Lincoln's skills and his commitment to Black citizenship, making him unable to hold that balance. The shift in leadership accelerated the collapse of moderate Reconstruction and deepened the sectional and racial conflicts that followed.

What was Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction plan?

Johnson's plan, announced in May 1865, offered amnesty to most former Confederates, restored their property, and required states to ratify the 13th Amendment. It placed no protections for Black civil rights and allowed former Confederate leaders back into state governments, effectively restoring antebellum power structures with remarkable speed.

How did Congress respond to Johnson's Reconstruction policies?

Congress, led by Radical Republicans, overrode Johnson's vetoes of the Civil Rights Act and Freedmen's Bureau Bill in 1866. They passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and moved to impeach Johnson in 1868, though he survived by one Senate vote. This conflict established limits on presidential authority over Reconstruction.

How does active learning help students understand the Reconstruction debates?

Reconstruction involves competing values: mercy versus justice, speed versus thoroughness, federal authority versus states' rights. Role-playing debates and fishbowl discussions force students to argue positions from primary sources, making constitutional and moral tensions concrete. Students who voice Johnson's or Congress's arguments tend to retain the nuances far longer than those who only read about them.