What was Andrew Johnson's approach during Reconstruction often criticized for?

Andrew Johnson's approach during Reconstruction is often criticized for his lenient policies toward the Southern states and his opposition to civil rights. After the Civil War, Johnson implemented a plan that allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union quickly and with minimal requirements. This leniency included granting pardons to many former Confederates and not enforcing stringent measures aimed at protecting the rights of newly freed enslaved individuals.

Johnson's reluctance to support civil rights legislation further fueled criticism, especially as violence and discrimination against African Americans surged in the South during this period. His opposition to the Freedmen's Bureau and the Civil Rights Act of 1866 reflected his belief that the federal government should not intervene too strongly in state affairs, particularly regarding race relations.

This context makes it clear that many viewed his approach as a failure to address the deep-seated issues of racial inequality and the rights of former slaves, thus justifying the harsh criticism he received during and after his presidency.