Reconstruction was the period after the Civil War where the United States sought to readmit the Confederate states to the Union from 1865 to 1877. The Freedman's Bureau was established to assist freed slaves by providing schools, hospitals, food and clothing. Andrew Johnson became president after Lincoln's assassination and sought to continue Lincoln's reconstruction plans with a strong presidential role. However, Radical Republicans in Congress pushed for full citizenship and equal rights for African Americans, passing laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 14th Amendment. Increased tensions led to Johnson's impeachment in 1868 for opposing Congressional reconstruction policies, though he was acquitted by one vote.