- Scope of Reconstruction: The Wade-Davis Bill envisioned a more radical Reconstruction process than the Lincoln Administration's plan. It proposed to divide the Confederate states into military districts and deny voting rights to former Confederate officials and prominent supporters. The Lincoln Administration's plan, in contrast, sought to reinstate southern state governments more quickly and with fewer restrictions.
- Presidential Oversight: The Wade-Davis Bill required the President to obtain congressional approval for any reconstruction plan, effectively limiting his authority in the process. The Lincoln Administration, on the other hand, asserted that Reconstruction was an executive function and sought more autonomy in implementing its plan.
- Timing of Readmission: The Wade-Davis Bill stipulated that the Confederate states could only be readmitted to the Union once a majority of their white male citizens had taken an oath of loyalty and pledged support for emancipation and civil rights. This conditionality made the process of readmission more complex and uncertain. The Lincoln Administration's plan, in contrast, did not set specific conditions for readmission beyond a state's ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery.
- Support and Opposition: The Wade-Davis Bill gained considerable support from Radical Republicans in Congress who favored more stringent measures to ensure the loyalty and transformation of the southern states. However, it faced strong opposition from moderate Republicans and the Lincoln Administration, who saw it as too harsh and potentially counterproductive. Ultimately, the bill was not enacted due to this strong opposition.