Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction
What would happen to property seized by Union soldiers during the war?
During the Reconstruction period, Lincoln's plan aimed at reunifying the country and rebuilding the Southern states that had seceded from the Union. His plan, which was known as the "Ten Percent Plan," offered amnesty and restoration of property rights to most white Southerners (excluding high-ranking Confederate officials) who pledged loyalty to the Union and accepted the abolition of slavery.
Regarding the property seized by Union soldiers during the war, Lincoln's plan intended to restore the rights of landowners in the South. The seized property would be returned to its original owners or their heirs, unless there were specific cases where the property had been legally confiscated prior to the war. This aspect of the plan was influenced by Lincoln's belief in the need for reconciliation between the North and the South in order to rebuild the country.