How did Johnsons attitude toward African Americans affect his approach to Reconstruction?

President Andrew Johnson's attitude toward African Americans significantly influenced his approach to Reconstruction by promoting leniency towards the Southern states and opposing civil rights for freed slaves. He believed in a swift restoration of the Union without strong protections for African Americans, which led to the implementation of Black Codes that restricted their rights. Johnson's unwillingness to support measures that would empower African Americans ultimately hindered the progress of Reconstruction and exacerbated racial tensions in the South. His presidency is often criticized for failing to address the needs and rights of newly freed African Americans.