What did Johnson's Reconstruction Plan require from Southern states concerning the 13th Amendment?

Johnson's Reconstruction Plan required Southern states to ratify the 13th Amendment as a prerequisite for rejoining the Union. The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was a crucial step in the Reconstruction era, aimed at redefining the social and political landscape of the South after the Civil War. By ensuring that Southern states ratified this amendment, Johnson attempted to solidify the end of slavery and pave the way for civil rights, although his approach was often lenient towards former Confederate states.

The requirement for ratification underscores the federal government's commitment to abolishing slavery permanently and highlights the tension between the desire for a swift restoration of the Union and the need to ensure fundamental changes in Southern society. This choice aligns directly with Johnson's intentions to facilitate a relatively easy reintegration of the Southern states while still establishing the groundwork for the rights of freed individuals through constitutional amendments.