What is presidential reconstruction definition?

Presidential Reconstruction refers to the period following the American Civil War, primarily from 1865 to 1867, during which President Abraham Lincoln and, after his assassination, President Andrew Johnson sought to reintegrate the Southern states into the Union. This approach emphasized leniency and quick restoration of state governments, often allowing Southern leaders to regain power with minimal requirements for civil rights protections for freed slaves. The policies aimed to restore the Union swiftly but faced significant opposition, ultimately leading to the more rigorous Congressional Reconstruction that followed.