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Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan
Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan
The Civil War began with the Battle at Fort
Sumter in 1861. Eleven states broke away from the
Union and formed their own country, the Confederate
States of America.
Even before the Civil War ended, however,
people talked about what would happen when the country was again at peace. How would the Confederate
States be reunited with the United States? What
penalties should be imposed on the people of the
states that seceded?
President Lincoln had a simple plan for reuniting the nation. Known as the “Ten Percent Plan,” it required that ten percent
of the voters in a state that had joined the Confederacy must take an oath of
loyalty to the United States. Then the state could send representatives to
Congress, and the state would be readmitted to the Union.
Northerners who supported Lincoln‟s plan were called moderates. They,
like Lincoln, believed that the Southern states should not be harshly punished
for seceding from the Union and should be readmitted as quickly as possible.
Lincoln looked forward to “a just and lasting peace.” His goal was to
help both sides recover and rebuild. At his first public appearance after the
war, Lincoln asked the band to play “Dixie,” a favorite Southern song. “I have
always thought „Dixie‟ one of the best tunes I have ever heard,” he said.
Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated before he could implement his
plan.
The Civil War began with the Battle at Fort
Sumter in 1861. Eleven states broke away from the
Union and formed their own country, the Confederate
States of America.
Even before the Civil War ended, however,
people talked about what would happen when the country was again at peace. How would the Confederate
States be reunited with the United States? What
penalties should be imposed on the people of the
states that seceded?
President Lincoln had a simple plan for reuniting the nation. Known as the “Ten Percent Plan,” it required that ten percent
of the voters in a state that had joined the Confederacy must take an oath of
loyalty to the United States. Then the state could send representatives to
Congress, and the state would be readmitted to the Union.
Northerners who supported Lincoln‟s plan were called moderates. They,
like Lincoln, believed that the Southern states should not be harshly punished
for seceding from the Union and should be readmitted as quickly as possible.
Lincoln looked forward to “a just and lasting peace.” His goal was to
help both sides recover and rebuild. At his first public appearance after the
war, Lincoln asked the band to play “Dixie,” a favorite Southern song. “I have
always thought „Dixie‟ one of the best tunes I have ever heard,” he said.
Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated before he could implement his
plan.
Excerpt from Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers
Excerpt from Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers