Changes

|party=[[Democrat]], [[National Union]]

|party=[[Democrat]], [[National Union]]

|spouse=Eliza McCardle Johnson

|spouse=Eliza McCardle Johnson

|religion=[[Christian]]

|religion=[[Methodist]]<ref>[https://www.umc.org/en/content/many-us-presidents-have-methodist-ties Many US presidents have Methodist ties]</ref>

|offices=

|offices=

{{Officeholder/president

{{Officeholder/president

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''Andrew Johnson''' (1808-1875) became the 17th president of the [[United States of America]] (1865–69) with the assassination of [[Abraham Lincoln]] in April 1865. Johnson, a Democrat, had been elected [[vice president]] in 1864 running on a national unity ticket with Republican Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the [[American Civil War]].

'''Andrew Johnson''' (1808-1875) became the 17th president of the [[United States of America]] (1865–69) with the assassination of [[Abraham Lincoln]] in April 1865. Johnson, a Democrat, had been elected [[vice president]] in 1864 running on a National Union ticket with Republican Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the [[American Civil War]]. Johnson was deeply influenced by [[Jacksonian democracy]].

He fiercely opposed the [[Radical Republican]] policy of [[Reconstruction]] and equal rights for [[Black]]s in the defeated ex-Confederate states. After the Radicals swept the 1866 elections, Johnson barely escaped removal from office, but was largely powerless. Racist Democrats of the white South, and advocates of a strong presidency, made Johnson a hero in the 1930s and 1940s [[New Deal]] era.  The [[impeachment and removal|impeachment]] of [[Bill Clinton]], and the failure by the [[U.S. Senate]] to remove him, caused renewed interest in Johnson and some implicit support of him by [[liberal]]s defending Clinton against removal.

He fiercely opposed the [[Radical Republican]] policy of [[Reconstruction]] and equal rights for [[Black]]s in the defeated ex-Confederate states. After the Radicals swept the 1866 elections, Johnson barely escaped removal from office, but was largely powerless. Racist Democrats of the white South, and advocates of a strong presidency, made Johnson a hero in the 1930s and 1940s [[New Deal]] era.  The [[impeachment and removal|impeachment]] of [[Bill Clinton]], and the failure by the [[U.S. Senate]] to remove him, caused renewed interest in Johnson and some implicit support of him by [[liberal]]s defending Clinton against removal.

Andrew Johnson is described as one of the worst Presidents due to him being an incompetent Democrat. The [[Ku Klux Klan]] was organized during his presidency as Johnson handed out pardons and amnesties for Democrat leaders.

Andrew Johnson is described as one of the worst Presidents due to him being an incompetent and corrupt Democrat. The [[Ku Klux Klan]] was organized during his presidency as Johnson handed out pardons and amnesties for Democrat leaders who engaged in rebellion against the [[United States]].

==Career==

==Career==

Johnson, a poor boy from North Carolina, became a tailor in Tennessee, and rose steadily in the ranks of the Democratic party. As a U.S. Senator he was the most prominent southerner to remain with the Union when the Confederacy was formed in 1861, was a highly visible "War Democrat." Lincoln appointed him military governor of Tennessee, 1862–64, as he worked vigorously to suppress the rebellion. In 1864 he was Lincoln's running-mate on the "Union Party" ticket, set up to attract War Democrats.  

Johnson, a poor boy from North Carolina, became a tailor in Tennessee, and rose steadily in the ranks of the Democratic party. As a U.S. Senator he was the most prominent southerner to remain with the Union when the Confederacy was formed in 1861, was a highly visible "[[War Democrats|War Democrat]]." Lincoln appointed him military governor of Tennessee, 1862–64, as he worked vigorously to suppress the rebellion. In 1864 he was Lincoln's running-mate on the "National Union Party" ticket, set up to attract War Democrats.

==Reconstruction==

==Reconstruction==

However, in 1866 the Radical Republicans won control of Congress by large majorities, and they passed Reconstruction legislation over Johnson's veto.  The Southern states were put under Army rule; blacks were registered as voters; 10,000 ex-Confederate leaders were disfranchised, and the states were required to ratify the 14th Amendment.  A Republican coalition came to power in nearly all the South, comprising Carpetbaggers (Republicans recently arrived from the North), Scalawags (white southerners) and Freedmen.  

However, in 1866 the Radical Republicans won control of Congress by large majorities, and they passed Reconstruction legislation over Johnson's veto.  The Southern states were put under Army rule; blacks were registered as voters; 10,000 ex-Confederate leaders were disfranchised, and the states were required to ratify the 14th Amendment.  A Republican coalition came to power in nearly all the South, comprising Carpetbaggers (Republicans recently arrived from the North), Scalawags (white southerners) and Freedmen.  

Johnson had no party affiliation 1865-68, but was usually supported by Democrats. After leaving the White House he returned to the Democratic party. He was elected to the Senate shortly before his death, becoming the first and only ex-president to serve in the Senate.  

Johnson had no party affiliation 1865–68, but was usually supported by Democrats. After leaving the White House he returned to the Democratic party. He was elected to the Senate shortly before his death, becoming the first and only ex-president to serve in the Senate.  

==Impeachment==

==Impeachment==

When Johnson tried to fire the Secretary of War, the House, controlled by Radical Republican [[Thaddeus Stevens]], impeached him.  He was the first President to be [[impeachment|impeached]]. The reason for impeachment, ostensibly his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, was actually his systematic defiance of Congress and his refusal to enforce the laws. Johnson did technically violate the Tenure of Office Act, which denied him the power to dismiss presidential appointees without the Senate's permission.  This act was designed to protect Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of war under president Lincoln who had been held over in Johnson's cabinet.

When Johnson tried to fire the Secretary of War, the House, lead by Radical Republican [[Thaddeus Stevens]], impeached him.  He was the first President to be [[impeachment|impeached]]. The reason for impeachment, ostensibly his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, was actually his systematic defiance of Congress and his refusal to enforce the laws. Johnson did technically violate the Tenure of Office Act, which denied him the power to dismiss presidential appointees without the Senate's permission.  This act was designed to protect Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War under president Lincoln who had been held over in Johnson's cabinet.

The Senate was one vote shy of the 2/3 needed to convict, so Johnson was not removed in 1868, but he was almost powerless in domestic affairs.

The Senate was one vote shy of the 2/3 needed to convict, so Johnson was not removed in 1868, but he was almost powerless in domestic affairs.

==Views on race==

==Views on race==

* "This is a country for white men, and by God, as long as I am President, it shall be a government for white men.  Everyone would, and must, admit that the white race is superior to the black." [https://www.americanthinker.com/2008/04/post_11.html]

* "This is a country for white men, and by God, as long as I am President, it shall be a government for white men.  Everyone would, and must, admit that the white race is superior to the black."<ref>Walker, Bruce (April 6, 2008) [https://www.americanthinker.com/2008/04/post_11.html Who's an Uncle Tom?] ''American Thinker''. Retrieved June 22, 2021.</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:Reconstruction]]

[[Category:Reconstruction]]

[[Category:Tennessee Governors]]

[[Category:Tennessee Governors]]