Presidential Reconstruction

Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867) was the initial phase of the Reconstruction era in the United States following the Civil War. During this period, President Andrew Johnson oversaw the process of readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union. His approach was lenient, offering pardons to most white Southerners and allowing them to reestablish state governments with minimal federal oversight.

A key outcome of Presidential Reconstruction was the enactment of Black Codes by Southern states. These laws aimed to control the labor and behavior of newly freed African Americans, severely limiting their economic and social freedoms. This approach faced strong opposition from Radical Republicans in Congress, who advocated for greater protections and rights for African Americans. The failure of Presidential Reconstruction to address the inequities of slavery and the resistance to Black civil rights ultimately led Congress to take control and initiate Radical Reconstruction in 1867.123