Ten-Percent Plan,which specified that a southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10 percent of its voters (from the voter rolls for the election of 1860) swore an Oath Of Allegiance to the Union. Voters could then elect delegates to draft revised state constitutions and establish new state governments. All southerners except for high-ranking Confederate army officers and government officials would be granted a full pardon. Lincoln guaranteed southerners that he would protect their private property, though not their slaves. Most moderate Republicans in Congress supported the president’s proposal for Reconstruction because they wanted to bring a quick end to the war.
In many ways, the Ten-Percent Plan was more of a political maneuver than a plan for Reconstruction. Lincoln wanted to end the war quickly. He feared that a protracted war would lose public support and that the North and South would never be reunited if the fighting did not stop quickly. His fears were justified: by late 1863, a large number of Democrats were clamoring for a truce and peaceful resolution. Lincoln’s Ten-Percent Plan was thus lenient—an attempt to entice the South to surrender.
The people of Maryland had a long tradition of slave-holding andties to the south. They wanted to secede from the Union, butPresident Lincoln would not allow it. Maryland surrounded thecapital of the US on three sides and if they seceded, the capitalwould have to secede also.
The government already has to much power. Meaning that they are overruling and so what I think is that individuals should make all their own decisions. I feel strongly that we are responsible for the decisions we make. I think other people can also agree that we would very much like to control our own lives and live it to the fullest other than being controlled by the government. Our gov. system is already corrupted as it is and very secretive. So I believe that they shouldn’t be taking part in our personal lives.
