What was a major consequence of Lincoln's assassination for Reconstruction policy?

• A. It had no effect on Reconstruction policy
• B. It led to immediate lenient reconciliation
• C. It stopped any reforms in land redistribution
• D. It shifted policy toward harsher measures under Radical Republicans

Answer: (C)

When Lincoln was assassinated, leadership moved to Andrew Johnson, whose approach to Reconstruction favored quick reconciliation with the South and few protections for newly freed Black people. This shift effectively halted the land-reform momentum that Lincoln had begun to push, including ideas about breaking up large plantations and distributing land to freedpeople. Johnson’s policies allowed former Confederates to regain control of land and opposed broader federal efforts to empower Black families economically through land ownership. As a result, in the immediate postwar period, reforms aimed at redistributing land were stymied, leaving many freedpeople without the economic foundation they needed.