29 December - Andrew Johnson birth anniversary

 

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. Here are some key points about Andrew Johnson:

1. Early Life: Andrew Johnson was born on 29 December 1808, in Raleigh, North Carolina, in a poor family. He had little formal education and apprenticed as a tailor.

2. Political Career in Tennessee: Johnson entered politics in Tennessee and served in various local and state offices, including as governor and U.S. senator. He was the only senator from a Confederate state who did not resign when the Southern states seceded during the Civil War.

3. Vice Presidency: Johnson became Abraham Lincoln's running mate as Vice President in the 1864 election, representing the National Union Party. His selection was aimed at fostering a sense of national unity during the Civil War.

4. Presidency: Johnson became President on 15 April 1865, following the assassination of President Lincoln. As President, he faced the complex task of Reconstruction in the aftermath of the Civil War.

5. Reconstruction Policies: Johnson's approach to Reconstruction was lenient towards the Southern states. He favored quick restoration of the former Confederate states to the Union with minimal federal intervention. This approach conflicted with the more radical Republican Congress, leading to significant political tension.

6. Impeachment: Johnson's resistance to the Radical Republican agenda, including his vetoes of key Reconstruction legislation, led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1868. He was charged with violating the Tenure of Office Act, but he narrowly avoided removal from office when the Senate fell one vote short of the necessary two-thirds majority for conviction.

7. Later Years: After leaving the presidency, Johnson returned to Tennessee and later served again in the U.S. Senate. He sought but did not win the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1868.

8. Death: Andrew Johnson died on 31 July 1875, in Carter County, Tennessee.

Andrew Johnson's presidency is often viewed as one of the most challenging periods in American history, marked by the difficulties of Reconstruction and the post-Civil War era. The conflicts between the executive and legislative branches during his presidency left a lasting impact on the balance of power between these branches of government.