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The Reconstruction Era was a very trying time for America. The country just ended the long deliberated, destructive civil war, leaving the south in utter ruins. The land that was previously used so prevalently with plantations was now almost unusable. Also the majority of the work force, namely the former slaves, no longer worked in such large numbers and for no pay. The Reconstruction Era was centered on rebuilding the south as well as finding a place for the newly freed slaves. There were countless ideas on how the country should treat the south but two main plans that went into play, Lincoln’s Plan and Johnson’s Plan. Lincoln’s Plan was started before the official end to the war. He first purposed the ten percent plan in which a full pardon would be given to any confederate soldier who would uphold the values of the constitution, and recognize any state where ten percent of the population vote to create a government which abolishes slavery. This plan did not go well with the radical republicans who wanted the south to