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

The correct answer is that Johnson's Reconstruction Plan required Southern states to ratify the 13th Amendment. This amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, was a key part of the post-Civil War reconstruction efforts aimed at integrating formerly enslaved people into society and dealing with the socio-political challenges in the South.

Johnson's approach to Reconstruction was lenient and focused on quickly restoring the Southern states to the Union. By requiring the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Johnson sought to legally eliminate slavery and ensure that a significant change in Southern society occurred. However, his plan did not place stringent conditions on Southern states regarding their treatment of freedmen or establish protections for their rights; thus, while the amendment was a step towards emancipation, it lacked comprehensive measures to guarantee the rights and safety of newly freed individuals.

Furthermore, while the notion of disenfranchisement of all whites or specific protections for all freedmen may have reflected a more radical approach to Reconstruction, Johnson’s policy was characterized by its desire for rapid reintegration rather than punitive measures against white Southerners or robust civil rights enforcement. Therefore, the requirement for ratification of the amendment stands as the core expectation of Johnson's relatively moderate Reconstruction initiative.