Problem: Rewrite this at college level: Obstruction of Reconstruction: Johnson's policies towards the Southern states after the Civil War were seen by many as too lenient. He pardoned many former Confederates and allowed them to create new governments that passed "Black Codes" to restrict the rights of freed slaves. This was seen as obstructing the Reconstruction efforts of Congress, which aimed to establish equal rights for all citizens. Impediment of Reconstruction: Johnson's post-Civil War policies towards the Southern states were perceived by many as excessively lenient. He issued pardons to numerous former Confederates and permitted them to establish new governments that enacted "Black Codes" to limit the rights of emancipated slaves. This was viewed as an impediment to Congress's Reconstruction efforts, which sought to secure equal rights for all citizens.