Why did congress develop its own plan for reconstruction?

Congress developed its own plan for Reconstruction in response to perceived shortcomings in President Abraham Lincoln's and later President Andrew Johnson's approaches, which they viewed as too lenient towards the South. Congressional leaders, particularly Radical Republicans, sought to implement a more stringent framework that would ensure civil rights and political participation for formerly enslaved people. Their plan aimed to reshape Southern society, guarantee equal rights, and prevent the re-establishment of pre-war power structures. This divergence highlighted the deep divisions in post-war America regarding how to rebuild the nation and address the legacies of slavery.