Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson
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Name	Andrew Johnson
Order	17th
Term start	April 15, 1865
Term end	March 4, 1869
Vice-president	None
Predecessor	Abraham Lincoln
Successor	Ulysses S. Grant

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869, after the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre. He was a member of the National Union Party and later became a member of the Democratic Party, with strong ties to the Southern United States and Tennessee. Johnson's presidency was marked by significant events, including the Reconstruction Era, the Freedmen's Bureau, and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was passed by the United States Congress despite his veto. He worked closely with other notable figures, such as Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, and Ulysses S. Grant, to shape the post-American Civil War landscape.

● Early Life and Career

Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Jacob Johnson and Mary McDonough Johnson, and later moved to Tennessee, where he became a successful Tailor and politician. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives and later in the United States House of Representatives, representing Tennessee's 2nd congressional district. Johnson was a strong supporter of the Homestead Act and the Transcontinental Railroad, and he worked closely with other notable politicians, such as Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, to pass significant legislation. He also served as the Governor of Tennessee during the American Civil War and was a key figure in the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Vicksburg.

● Presidency

As president, Johnson faced significant challenges, including the Reconstruction Era and the Freedmen's Bureau, which was established by the United States Congress to provide assistance to African Americans in the Southern United States. He vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, but it was passed by Congress despite his veto, and he also vetoed the Reconstruction Acts, which were designed to rebuild the Southern United States after the American Civil War. Johnson worked closely with other notable figures, such as William Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Ulysses S. Grant, to shape the post-American Civil War landscape, including the Treaty of Fort Laramie and the Alaska Purchase from Russia. He also oversaw the Ex parte Milligan case, which was a significant United States Supreme Court decision that limited the power of the President of the United States.

● Impeachment and Later Life

Johnson was impeached by the United States House of Representatives in 1868, on charges of High crimes and misdemeanors, specifically for violating the Tenure of Office Act, which was passed by Congress to limit the power of the President of the United States. He was acquitted by a single vote in the United States Senate, with the help of notable politicians, such as Edmund G. Ross and John B. Henderson. After his presidency, Johnson returned to Tennessee and served in the United States Senate, where he worked closely with other notable politicians, such as Justin Smith Morrill and Roscoe Conkling. He also ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1872, but was defeated by Horace Maynard.

● Personal Life

Johnson was married to Eliza McCardle Johnson and had five children, including Martha Johnson Patterson and Charles Johnson. He was a strong supporter of Education and Women's rights, and he worked closely with other notable figures, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, to promote these causes. Johnson was also a member of the Freemasons and the Odd Fellows, and he was a strong supporter of the Temperance movement.

● Legacy

Johnson's legacy is complex and controversial, with some historians viewing him as a strong supporter of States' rights and others seeing him as a Racist who opposed the Reconstruction Era. He is remembered for his role in the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson and his veto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as well as his support for the Homestead Act and the Transcontinental Railroad. Johnson's presidency was also marked by significant events, such as the Ex parte Milligan case and the Alaska Purchase, which had a lasting impact on the United States. He is buried in the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee, and his home, the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, is a National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. Category:Presidents of the United States