1. Who is the author of this document and when was it produced?
   
2. According to the document, who should control Reconstruction?
   
3. According to the document, what is the role of the executive branch? The legislative branch?
   
4. What conditions must be met for Southern states to be readmitted to the Union?
   
5. Who should be excluded from readmission? Is a rationale provided to justify this exclusion? Do you support it?
   
6. Does this document indicate any provisions to support or assist former slaves?
   
7. Who do you think would support this document? Who would reject it?
   
8. What do you believe is the strength of this proposal?
   
9. What difficulties do you believe might arise if this proposal was accepted?
   
10. Choose one adjective to describe the terms of this plan. Be prepared to defend your choice.

1. Students will share their responses in class, and a chart will be constructed to compare Lincoln’s plan with the Wade-Davis Bill. Students will debate the merits of each proposal and share their arguments.
   


Distribute a copy of Lincoln's response to the Wade-Davis Bill to each student (Lincoln's response is printed at the bottom of this page):
www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=37&page=transcript

All students will read this document in class and comment on Lincoln’s response.

• What argument does Lincoln provide for not accepting the Wade-Davis Bill?
If you had been a member of Congress who had supported the Wade-Davis Bill, how would you have reacted to Lincoln's pocket veto?

• To whom do you think Lincoln was addressing his comments?



• In her book Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin says about Lincoln, “More than any of his other speeches, the Second Inaugural fused spiritual faith with politics.” Identify specific comments made by Lincoln that prove this statement.