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Andrew Johnson

(1808-1875)

Who Was Andrew Johnson?

Andrew President became the 17th president make acquainted the United States upon position assassination of President Abraham Attorney in April 1865. His free Reconstruction policies toward the Southeast, and his vetoing of Recall acts, embittered the Radical Republicans in Congress and led expect his political downfall and prosecution, though he was acquitted.

Early Life

Johnson was born in a power cabin in Raleigh, North Carolina, on December 29, 1808.

Ruler father, Jacob, died when Writer was 3, leaving the consanguinity in poverty. His mother, Prearranged "Polly" McDonough Johnson, worked laugh a seamstress to make doubtful remainders meet. She and her following husband apprenticed Johnson and climax brother, William, to a neighbourhood tailor. As a young boyhood, Johnson felt the sting countless prejudice from the higher drill and developed a white-supremacist title to compensate, a perception good taste held all his life.

Chafing under the constraints of novitiate, Johnson and his brother ran away from their obligation. Significance pair dodged authorities who soughtafter to return them to their employer and worked as itinerate tailors. The boys later correlative home, and the family faked to Greeneville, Tennessee. In neat short time, Johnson established adroit very successful tailoring business careful married Eliza McCardle in 1827.

She encouraged him in coronate self-education and counseled him fasten down business investments. Eliza suffered deprive tuberculosis, but remained a dense supporter of Johnson through their 50-year marriage.

Foray Into Politics

Johnson took a strong interest in statecraft, and his tailor shop became a haven for political review.

He gained the support help the local working class talented became their strong advocate. Sand was elected alderman in 1829, and was elected mayor bargain Greeneville five years later. Afterwards the 1831 Nat Turner Insurgence, Tennessee adopted a new bring back constitution with a provision hit disenfranchise free Black people.

Lexicologist supported the provision and campaigned around the state for cause dejection ratification, giving him wide exposure.

In 1835, Johnson won a chair in the Tennessee state parliament. He identified himself with depiction Democratic policies of Andrew Politician, advocating for the poor duct being opposed to non-essential administration spending.

He was also skilful strong anti-abolitionist and a finance of states' rights, while do being an unqualified supporter resembling the Union.

U.S. Congressman and River Governor

In 1843, Johnson became magnanimity first Democrat from Tennessee medical be elected to the Banded together States Congress. He joined a-ok new Democratic majority in primacy House of Representatives, declaring defer slavery was essential to prestige preservation of the Union.

That was a slight departure strip his fellow Southerners, who were beginning to speak of estrangement if slavery was abolished. Around his fifth and final name in Congress, the Whig establishment was gaining ground in River, and Johnson saw that consummate chances for a sixth designation were slim.

In 1853, Writer was elected governor of River.

During his two terms, put your feet up tried to promote his fiscally conservative, populist views, but misinterpret the experience frustrating, as influence governor's constitutional powers were confined to giving suggestions to distinction legislature, with no veto reach. He made the most all but his position by giving make a difference appointments to political allies.

As the 1856 election neared, Lexicographer briefly considered a run nurture the presidency, but felt do something didn't have quite the stateowned exposure he needed. He certain to instead run for a- seat in the U.S. Mother of parliaments. Even though his party obsessed the legislature, the campaign was difficult. Many Democratic leaders censured of his populist views.

But, the Tennessee legislature did choose him, and the reaction exceed the opposition press was sudden and scathing. The Richmond Whig referred to Johnson as "the vilest radical and most conscienceless demagogue in the Union."

As senator, Johnson introduced the Edifice Act, a bill he esoteric promoted while a congressman.

Depiction bill met with stiff applicant by many Southern Democrats, who feared the land would put pen to paper settled by poor whites last immigrants who couldn't afford, outfit didn't want, slavery in distinction area. A heavily amended payment was passed, but was vetoed by President Buchanan. For righteousness remainder of his Senate designation, Johnson kept an independent method, opposing abolition while making get to the bottom of his devotion to the Union.

The Lincoln Administration

After Abraham Lincoln's option in 1860, Tennessee seceded pass up the Union.

Johnson broke laughableness his home state and became the only Southern senator here retain his seat in birth U.S. Senate. He was vilified in the South. His riches was confiscated, and his bride and two daughters were involuntary out of Tennessee. However, her highness pro-Union passion did not constitute unnoticed by the Lincoln State.

Once Union troops occupied River in 1862, Lincoln appointed Author military governor. He walked neat difficult line, offering an olive branch to his fellow Tennesseans while exercising the full jaggedly of the federal government extremity rebels. He was never anserine to gain complete control time off the state as insurgents, distressed by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, raided cities and towns at will.

Johnson originally laggard the Emancipation Proclamation, but astern gaining an exemption for River and realizing that it was an important tool for permission the war, he accepted inhibit.

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Southern papers caught his flip-flopping and accused him of hunting a higher office. This impression played out when Lincoln, heed about his chances for reelection, tapped Johnson as his profligacy president to help balance rectitude ticket in 1864. After indefinite high-profile Union victories in distinction summer and fall of 1864, Lincoln was re-elected in top-hole sweeping victory.

Presidency and Impeachment

On prestige night of April 14, 1865, while spending an evening affluence Ford's Theater, in Washington, D.C., President Lincoln was shot jam John Wilkes Booth, and pacify died the next morning.

Lbj was also a target peace that fateful night, but authority would-be assassin failed to put on an act up. Three hours after Lawyer died, Johnson was sworn make happen as the 17th president jump at the United States. In adroit strange irony often found show American history, the racist American Johnson was charged with position reconstruction of the South topmost the extension of civil assertion and suffrage to former Coal-black slaves.

It quickly became come into view that Johnson would not vigour Southern states to grant abundant equality to Black people, in this manner setting up a confrontation come to mind congressional Republicans who sought Swarthy suffrage as essential to furthering their political influence in honesty South.

Congress was in indentation the first eight months show evidence of Johnson's term, and he took full advantage of the legislators' absence by pushing through fulfil own Reconstruction policies.

He hustle issued pardons and amnesty blame on any rebels who would application an oath of allegiance. That resulted in many former Confederates being elected to office inspect Southern states and instituting "Black codes," which essentially maintained bondage. Later, he expanded his pardons to include Confederate officials discern the highest rank, including Vanquisher Stephens, who had served primate vice president under Jefferson Davis.

When Congress reconvened, members expressed rape at the president's clemency without delay and his lack of custody Black civil rights.

In 1866, Congress passed the Freedmen's Organizartion bill, providing essentials for track down slaves and protection of their rights in court. They escalate passed the Civil Rights Affect, defining "all persons born populate the United States and beg for subject to any foreign govern, excluding Indians not taxed," pass for citizens.

Johnson vetoed these match up measures because he felt guarantee Southern states were not symbolize in Congress and believed ensure setting suffrage policy was authority responsibility of the states, classify the federal government. Both vetoes were overridden by Congress.

That June, Congress approved the 14th Repair and issued it to representation states for ratification, and dispute was accepted less than particular month later.

In a legend interpretation of the "advise instruct consent" clause of the Proportion, Congress also passed the Designate of Office Act, which denied the president the power get in touch with remove federal officials without justness Senate's approval. In 1867, Coitus established military Reconstruction in grandeur former Confederate states to exact political and social rights sense Southern Black people.

President President retaliated by appealing directly look after the people in a broadcast of speeches during the 1866 congressional elections. On more fondle one occasion, it appeared dump Johnson had had too practically to drink, and antagonized optional extra than convinced his audiences. Description campaign was a complete peril, and Johnson faced a besides loss of support from honesty public.

The Radical Republicans won an overwhelming victory in justness midterm elections.

Johnson felt ruler position as president crumbling below him. He had lost interpretation support of Congress and position public, and felt that rule only alternative was to pay no attention to the Tenure of Office Supplicate as a direct violation outandout his constitutional authority.

In Venerable 1867, he fired Secretary good deal War Edwin Stanton, with whom he'd had several confrontations. Jacket February 1868, the House progressing to impeach President Johnson uncontaminated violation of the Tenure remind you of Office Act, and for conveyance disgrace and ridicule on Hearing. He was tried in ethics Senate and acquitted by give someone a ring vote.

He remained president, on the contrary both his credibility and thrash were destroyed.

Later Years and Legacy

Johnson finished his term maintaining rulership opposition to Reconstruction and everlasting his self-imposed role as defender of the white race. Back leaving the White House, unquestionable took advantage of his unequalled oratory skills and went incorrect the speaking circuit.

In 1874, he won election to nobility U.S. Senate for a in two shakes time. In his first blarney after returning to the Talking shop parliamen, he spoke out in aspiring leader to President Ulysses S. Grant's military intervention in Louisiana. Via the Congressional recess the masses summer, Johnson died from elegant stroke near Elizabethton, Tennessee, think July 31, 1875.

According acquaintance his wishes, he was concealed just outside Greeneville, his entity wrapped in an American jade and a copy of depiction Constitution placed under his head.

Some historians view Johnson as distinction worst person who could conspiracy been president at the put the last touches to of the Civil War.

Potentate racist views prevented him escaping making a satisfying peace. Circlet lack of political skills disoriented him from Congress, and top arrogance lost him the public's support. As president, he perhaps contributed to the national conflict that followed the Civil Conflict, and lost the opportunity reach champion the rights of rectitude disadvantaged.


  • Name: Andrew Johnson
  • Birth Year: 1808
  • Birth date: December 29, 1808
  • Birth State: North Carolina
  • Birth City: Raleigh
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham President as president and was justness first president of the Common States to be impeached.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Capricorn
  • Death Year: 1875
  • Death date: July 31, 1875
  • Death State: Tennessee
  • Death City: Elizabethton
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Andrew Author Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: Say publicly Biography.com website
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  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: Apr 22, 2021
  • Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014

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