A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What did the 10% plan propose?

1. To allow states to form new governments if 10% of their voters took an oath of loyalty

2. To mandate that 10% of soldiers in the army be freed slaves

3. To grant 10% of land to freedmen in the South

4. To require 10% of the South’s economy to be based on manufacturing

The correct answer is: To allow states to form new governments if 10% of their voters took an oath of loyalty

The 10% plan, proposed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, aimed to facilitate the reconstruction of the Southern states following the Civil War. This plan allowed for the reestablishment of state governments if 10% of the voters in a given state took an oath of loyalty to the Union. This approach was intended to encourage a swift reconciliation between the North and South, making it easier for Southern states to rejoin the Union after the war. It reflected Lincoln's belief in a lenient and forgiving approach to Reconstruction, as he sought to heal the nation and bring the rebellious states back into the fold with minimal harshness. The other options do not accurately represent the content or purpose of the 10% plan. The second option mistakenly interprets the percentage related to soldiers rather than voters. The third option incorrectly associates a land grant percentage with the plan, while the fourth option inaccurately connects the figure to economic requirements, instead of focusing on loyalty oaths. This context contextualizes why option A stands out as the correct representation of the 10% plan's proposal.