Issues Diving Republicans

Thaddeus Stevens  

1.  Radical Republicans defended the idea that black people should have access to the same opportunities and rights as white people.

2.  Land redistribution, $100 to build a new house, jobs, and education were the three Reconstruction-related objectives that the Radical Republicans advocated.

3.  Democrats could have resisted these proposals because they didn't want to lose land or pay taxes that went to help abolitionists get better opportunities.

Andrew Johnson 

1.  Andrew Johnson cited the cost and the amount of money previously supplied as his justifications for refusing funds to help freed slaves.

2. This may affect what he says because he wants to win support for his Reconstruction plan among white democratic voters.

3. Andrew Johnson refused to give African Americans the right to vote for two reasons: the federal government lacked the authority to do so, and they hadn't specifically requested it.