History of Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, is a figure often remembered for his contentious time in office and for being the first president to be impeached. His political career, set against the backdrop of a nation grappling with civil war and reconstruction, provides a narrative rich in complexity and contradiction.

Born on December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a poor family, Johnson grew up with limited formal education. He worked as a tailor's apprentice but ran away at age 16, settling eventually in Greeneville, Tennessee. There, he established a successful tailoring business and fell into politics over time. His journey from humble beginnings to the presidency exemplifies the quintessential American story of self-made success, though his presidency tells a more tumultuous tale.

Johnson's political career began in the early 1820s when he entered public service as an alderman in Greeneville. He soon became mayor, showcasing his ability to connect with working-class Americans. His exceptional oratory skills and populist rhetoric, advocating for the interests of the common white man, propelled him into the Tennessee State Legislature. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1835 to 1837 and again from 1839 to 1841, demonstrating his commitment to Jacksonian democracy principles.

In 1843, Johnson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for a decade. During his time in Congress, Johnson championed the Homestead Act, which aimed to provide 160-acre tracts of public land to settlers at low costs, believing it would create a class of self-sufficient farmers. His staunch support for small farmers and disdain for the planter aristocracy in the South distinguished him from many of his Southern colleagues.

After a brief hiatus from federal office, Johnson returned to Tennessee politics, serving as governor from 1853 to 1857. His tenure focused on populist policies, including funding for public education and infrastructure improvements. Despite his Southern roots, Johnson's political approach was characterized by opposition to the elite planter class, which would later influence his Civil War stance.

In 1857, Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he vehemently opposed secession, even as his state moved to leave the Union. Johnson's decision to remain loyal to the Union endeared him to President Abraham Lincoln, despite his Democratic affiliation. This loyalty culminated in his appointment as the military governor of Tennessee in 1862, a position he held until 1864. As military governor, Johnson worked relentlessly to reestablish federal control over Tennessee and advocated for a lenient reconstruction of Southern states.

Lincoln, recognizing the importance of unity, selected Johnson as his running mate in 1864, hoping to balance the ticket with a Southern Democrat loyal to the Union. The Lincoln-Johnson ticket won the presidency in 1864, but Johnson’s vice-presidency was short-lived; Lincoln's assassination in April 1865 catapulted Johnson into the presidency.

Johnson's presidency would be defined by his battles over reconstruction policy. A Democrat who had ascended on a Republican ticket, Johnson sought to quickly restore the Southern states to the Union without much protection for newly freed slaves. His lenient policies towards the former Confederate states—pardoning many former Confederates and permitting the enactment of Black Codes—put him at odds with the Radical Republicans in Congress who demanded stricter conditions for re-admittance and equal rights for Black Americans.

This friction culminated in a series of legislative conflicts. Congress, overriding Johnson's vetoes, passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts which divided the South into military districts and required states to ratify the 14th Amendment. Johnson's repeated vetoes and subsequent overrules by Congress sowed discord, with Johnson arguing for a restrained federal government and against efforts to bolster civil rights for African Americans.

The climax of Johnson's precarious presidency arrived with his impeachment in 1868. The primary charge was his violation of the Tenure of Office Act by attempting to remove Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, from office. While the House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson, the Senate trial fell one vote short of conviction. This outcome allowed Johnson to serve out his term, but his presidency was left weakened and politically isolating.

After leaving the presidency in 1869, Johnson remained politically active. In 1875, he returned to the political stage, winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, a rare post-presidency achievement, but his time was cut short by his death from a stroke later that year.

Andrew Johnson's political career spanned the breadth of American society, from small-town governance to the nation's highest office, reflecting a time of seismic national change. His unwavering belief in states' rights and limited federal interference, however, starkly contrasted with the needs of a nation emerging from civil war, seeking equality and unity. His presidency remains a poignant example of how personal beliefs and historical context can shape—and constrain—a leader's ability to govern effectively.