Andrew Johnson Quotes
- 17th U.S. President
- USA
- 1808 - 1875
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He was a Democrat who succeeded Abraham Lincoln after his assassination. Johnson was a self-educated tailor who became a lawyer and then a politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and…Read More
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He was a Democrat who succeeded Abraham Lincoln after his assassination. Johnson was a self-educated tailor who became a lawyer and then a politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate before becoming the Governor of Tennessee. As President, Johnson was a strong advocate for Reconstruction and civil rights for African Americans. He was impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868 but was acquitted by the Senate. He is best known for his veto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was overridden by Congress. Johnson is also remembered for his efforts to restore the Union after the Civil War and for his support of the Freedmen’s Bureau.Read Less
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He was a Democrat who succeeded Abraham Lincoln after his assassination. Johnson was a self-educated tailor who became a lawyer and then a politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate before becoming the Governor of Tennessee. As President, Johnson was a strong advocate for Reconstruction and civil rights for African Americans. He was impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868 but was acquitted by the Senate. He is best known for his veto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was overridden by Congress. Johnson is also remembered for his efforts to restore the Union after the Civil War and for his support of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
12 Best Andrew Johnson Quotes
Andrew Johnson Career Highlights
- Became the 17th President of the United States after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865
- Served as a Democrat in a Republican-dominated Congress, leading to conflicts and impeachment proceedings
- Successfully vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which aimed to protect the rights of African Americans
Key Contributions by Andrew Johnson
- As a member of the House of Representatives, Johnson advocated for the rights of poor white farmers and opposed the expansion of slavery
- As President, he implemented a plan for Reconstruction that favored the reintegration of Southern states into the Union without protecting the rights of freed slaves
- His impeachment trial set a precedent for the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government
What Sets Andrew Johnson Apart
- Johnson was the first President to be impeached, and he narrowly avoided conviction by one vote in the Senate
- He was the only President to serve without a Vice President for the majority of his term, as he was not able to appoint one after the resignation of his first Vice President
- His policies and actions during Reconstruction have been heavily criticized and debated by historians, with some viewing him as a champion of states’ rights and others as a racist and obstructionist leader
Takeaways
- Andrew Johnson’s presidency was marked by controversy and conflict, both within his own party and with Congress
- His actions and decisions during Reconstruction had a significant impact on the rights and freedoms of African Americans in the United States
- His impeachment trial and the debates surrounding it highlight the importance of checks and balances in the American political system.