Andrew Johnson
Early Life and Political Rise
Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, was born on December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His early life was marked by poverty and hardship. Johnson's father, Jacob Johnson, died when Andrew was only three years old, leaving his mother, Mary McDonough Johnson, to support the family as a laundress. Despite these challenges, Johnson was determined to rise above his circumstances.
Johnson's formal education was limited; he never attended school and was essentially self-taught. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a tailor, where he learned the trade that would support him throughout his early years. His time as a tailor's apprentice was crucial, as it exposed him to a variety of people and ideas, sparking his interest in politics.
In 1826, Johnson moved to Greeneville, Tennessee, where he opened his own tailor shop. It was in Greeneville that Johnson began his political career, starting as an alderman in 1829. His political ascent continued as he served as mayor of Greeneville, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, and later as a state senator. Johnson's political philosophy was rooted in his belief in the common man and his opposition to the planter aristocracy, which dominated Southern politics.
Congressional Career
Johnson's political career took a significant turn when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1843. During his time in Congress, Johnson was a staunch advocate for the interests of the working class. He supported the Homestead Act, which aimed to provide land to settlers at little or no cost, and was a vocal opponent of the national banking system, which he believed favored the wealthy elite.
In 1853, Johnson was elected governor of Tennessee, where he continued to champion the rights of the common man. His tenure as governor was marked by his efforts to improve the state's infrastructure and education system. Johnson's popularity in Tennessee led to his election to the U.S. Senate in 1857.
As a senator, Johnson was a strong supporter of the Union during the American Civil War. Despite being a Southern Democrat, he opposed secession and remained loyal to the Union, a stance that would later influence his political trajectory.
Vice Presidency and Presidency
In 1864, Johnson was selected as Abraham Lincoln's running mate in the presidential election. The choice was strategic, as Johnson's Southern roots and Unionist stance were seen as a way to appeal to War Democrats and border state Unionists. Following Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, Johnson assumed the presidency.
Johnson's presidency was marked by significant challenges, particularly in the realm of Reconstruction, the process of reintegrating the Southern states into the Union and addressing the status of newly freed African Americans. Johnson's approach to Reconstruction was lenient towards the former Confederate states, advocating for rapid reintegration with minimal changes to their pre-war social structures.
This leniency led to significant conflict with the Radical Republicans in Congress, who sought to impose stricter terms on the Southern states and ensure civil rights for freedmen. Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to African Americans, further alienated him from Congress.
Impeachment and Later Life
The conflict between Johnson and Congress reached its peak with his impeachment in 1868. The primary charge against him was his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which restricted the president's ability to remove certain officeholders without Senate approval. Johnson's dismissal of Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, was seen as a direct challenge to this law.
Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives but narrowly avoided removal from office after the Senate trial, where he was acquitted by a single vote. Despite surviving impeachment, Johnson's political influence was severely diminished, and he did not secure the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1868.
After leaving office, Johnson returned to Tennessee, where he remained active in politics. In 1875, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the only former president to serve in the Senate. Johnson's return to the Senate was short-lived, as he died on July 31, 1875, from a stroke.
Legacy and Historical Assessment
Andrew Johnson's legacy is a subject of considerable debate among historians. His presidency is often criticized for his failure to effectively manage Reconstruction and his opposition to civil rights for African Americans. Johnson's lenient policies towards the Southern states are seen as contributing to the rise of the Jim Crow laws and the entrenchment of racial segregation.
Despite these criticisms, some historians argue that Johnson's commitment to the Union and his adherence to constitutional principles during his impeachment trial are noteworthy. His presidency highlights the complexities of post-Civil War America and the challenges of reunifying a divided nation.